What is NT Thunder Academy Under 18s?
NT Thunder Academy Under 18s is the Territory’s representative team for male participants aged 17 and 18
What competitions do they play in?
NAB AFL U18 Academy Series
NAB AFL U18 National Championships (Allies)
When did the NT Thunder Academy Under 18s squad first commence?
1997
What have been some highlights?
Seeing players who have gone on to be drafted in AFL. In 2017 Zac Bailey (Brisbane), Dom Barry (Port Adelaide) and Tony Olango (West Coast). Other past players such as Cyril Rioli (Hawthorn), Daniel Motlop (Port Adelaide), Daniel Rioli (Richmond), Steven Motlop (Geelong) and Nakia Cockatoo (Geelong) have also been drafted after coming up through the Thunder Academy ranks.
Who is the coach?
Jimmy Driscoll
2018 squad members
| Player # | Name | DOB | League Club/Local Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tyson KIDNEY | 30/11/2000 | Nightcliff Football Club |
| 2 | Beau O’CONNELL | 25/10/2001 | Wanderers Football Club |
| 3 | Liam HOLT-FITZ | 7/08/2000 | Sporties Spitfires Football Club |
| 4 | Leonard FERREIRA | 20/01/2001 | Wanderers Football Club |
| 5 | Brandon RUSCA | 11/05/2001 | Southern Districts Football Club |
| 6 | Deacon BRAUN | 19/06/2001 | South Alice Football Club |
| 7 | Robert CAMPBELL | 27/02/2001 | Big Rivers Hawks Football Club |
| 8 | Malcolm ROSAS JNR | 27/06/2001 | Darwin Football Club |
| 9 | James BOX | 19/09/2001 | Wanderers Football Club |
| 10 | Jacon LAMPTON | 15/07/2000 | Palmerston Football Club |
| 11 | Jack PALMER | 5/10/2000 | Southern Districts Football Club |
| 12 | Mitchell PEMBERTON | 5/07/1999 | Southern Districts Football Club |
| 13 | Izaak WYATT | 17/03/2000 | Southern Districts Football Club |
| 14 | Beau SCHWARZE | 14/02/2000 | Southern Districts Football Club |
| 15 | Jeffrey SIMON | 2/12/2001 | Tiwi Bombers Football Club |
| 16 | Dillen BROWN | 26/07/2001 | Wanderers Football Club |
| 17 | Domonic GRANT | 29/01/1999 | Wanderers Football Club |
| 18 | Marly McGREGOR | 16/12/2001 | Nightcliff Football Club |
| 19 | Ben JUNGFER | 6/08/2001 | Waratah Football Club |
| 20 | Jackson COLE | 2/07/2001 | Pioneers Football Club |
| 21 | James BELL | 5/06/2000 | Southern Districts Football Club |
| 22 | Matthew GREEN | 5/05/2000 | Sporties Spitfires Football Club |
| 23 | Michael MUMMERY | 13/06/2000 | Nightcliff Football Club |
| 24 | Joel STEVENS | 13/05/2000 | Wanderers Football Club |
| 25 | Dominic FORBES | 5/03/2001 | Federal Football Club |
| 26 | Daniel FULLER | 6/12/2000 | Wanderers Football Club |
| 27 | Shawn FOSTER | 1/09/2000 | Pioneers Football Club |
| 28 | Joel BUDARICK | 25/09/2001 | Big Rivers Hawks Football Club |
| 29 | Louis KOSSACK | 5/06/2000 | Big Rivers Hawks Football Club |
| 30 | Rodney BAIRD | 1/03/1999 | Palmerston Football Club |
| 31 | Coen HUTT | 16/03/2000 | Waratah Football Club |
| 32 | Barrindi NGURRUWUTHUN | 18/11/2000 | Yirrkala |
| 33 | Jeremiah SCRUTTON | 8/12/1999 | Ti Tree |
| 34 | Marcus VALASTRO | 25/05/1999 | Waratah Football Club |
| 35 | Alex EMMETT | 8/09/2000 | Federal Football Club |
| 36 | Stephen CUMMING | 22/07/2000 | Dandenong Stingrays Football Club |
| 37 | Matthew CUMMING | 22/07/2000 | Dandenong Stingrays Football Club |
| 38 | Kieren PARNELL | 23/01/1999 | St Mary’s Football Club |
| 39 | Francis BRUCE | 24/09/2001 | Pioneers Football Club |
2018 Academy Series fixtures and results:
ROUND 1
4pm Saturday 14 April
NT Thunder vs GWS Giants Academy
Blacktown International Sports Park (BISP), Blacktown, NSW
GWS Giants Academy 12.5.77 defeated NT Thunder 5.5.35
GOALS
NT Thunder: Beau Schwarze 2, Dillen Brown, Malcolm Rosas Jnr, Jeremiah Scrutton
BEST
NT Thunder: Rodney Baird, Stephen Cumming, Domonic Grant, Matthew Green, Liam Holt-Fitz, Malcolm Rosas Jnr
ROUND 2
10am Sunday 22 April
NT Thunder vs Tasmania
Shepley Oval, Dandenong, VIC
Tasmania 9.13.67 defeated NT Thunder 7.10.52
GOALS
NT Thunder: Leonard Ferreira 2, Joel Stevens 2, Stephen Cumming, Michael Mummery, Beau Schwarze
BEST
NT Thunder: Stephen Cumming, Rodney Baird, Matthew Cumming, Joel Stevens, Jeffrey Simon, Michael Mummery
ROUND 3
5pm Saturday 28 April
NT Thunder vs Sydney Swans Academy
TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs, NT
*NT Thunder NEAFL curtain-raiser
Sydney Swans Academy 14.6.90 defeated NT Thunder 8.13.61
GOALS
NT Thunder: Matt Cumming 3, Stephen Cumming, Leonard Ferreira, Dominic Forbes, Michael Mummery, Izaak Wyatt
BEST
NT Thunder: Matt Cumming, Michael Mummery, Stephen Cumming, Matthew Green, Coen Hutt, Jeffrey Simon
ROUND 4
1pm Sunday 6 May
NT Thunder vs Gold Coast Suns Academy
Burpengary Oval, Moreton Bay, QLD
Gold Coast Suns Academy 18.8.116 defeated NT Thunder 4.3.27
GOALS
NT Thunder: James Box, Stephen Cumming, Jeffrey Simon, Marcus Valastro
BEST
NT Thunder: Dominic Forbes, Rodney Baird, Liam Holt-Fitz, Michael Mummery, Beau Schwarze, Marcus Valastro
ROUND 5
6pm Saturday 12 May
NT Thunder vs Brisbane Lions Academy
TIO Stadium, Darwin, NT
NT Thunder 14.5.89 defeated Brisbane Lions Academy 11.9.75
GOALS
NT Thunder: Matt Cumming 3, Leonard Ferreira 2, Michael Mummery 2, Izaak Wyatt 2, James Box, Dillen Brown, Ben Jungfer, Louis Kossack and Beau O’Connell.
BEST
NT Thunder: Rodney Baird, Matt Cumming, Leonard Ferreira, Ben Jungfer, Michael Mummery, Beau Schwarze
In May 2018, Rodney Baird was named the NT's Most Valuable Player in this year's Under 18 Academy Series.
For more information on the AFL Under 18s visit the AFL website.
National representation
Four boys have been named for the 2018 Allies selection:
- Rodney Baird
- Matthew Green
- Izaak Wyatt
- Michael Mummery
Allies 2018 fixture and results:
ROUND 1
10.30am Saturday 9 June, Blacktown International Sports Park (BISP), Blacktown, NSW
Allies vs Vic Country
Allies 10.11.71 defeated Vic Country 6.12.48
NT representatives: Green, Mummery
ROUND 2
11am Saturday 16 June, Southport, QLD
Allies vs Vic Metro
Vic Metro 7.10.52 defeated Allies 6.14.50
NT representatives: Green
ROUND 3
- Allies bye round
ROUND 4
2:10pm Friday 29 June, GMHBA Stadium, Vic
Allies vs South Australia
ROUND 5
2:10pm Wednesday 4 July, Etihad Stadium, Vic
Allies vs Western Australia
For more information on the Allies or the AFL Under 18s visit the AFL website.
2018 support staff:
Matt Cannard – Senior Assistant Coach
Greg Bain – Assistant Coach
Matt Campbell – Assistant Coach
Stewart Carr – Assistant Coach
Darren Gilbert – Assistant Coach
Darren Talbot – Assistant Coach
Stuart Davis – Team Manager
Belinda Creer – Wellbeing Coach
Raymond Stoddard – Strength and Conditioning Coach
Tim Fitzgerald – Physiotherapist
Jan Wray – Head Trainer
Annette Duffy – Trainer
Kathy Hutt – Trainer
How do you qualify for this squad?
Athletes are identified through local leagues and can be nominated by someone from their club. They may also be invited to participate in the Under 18s program following participating in the Under 16s squad. Once the Under 18s have completed the Academy Series against Tasmania, Gold Coast Suns, Brisbane Lions, Sydney Swans and GWS Giants, a representative team known as the Allies is selected to participate in the AFL National Championships against Victoria Country, Victoria Metro, Western Australia and South Australia.
Thanks to our 2018 sponsor
