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
Northern Territory: Beau Schwarze 2, Dillen Brown, Malcolm Rosas Jnr, Jeremiah Scrutton
BEST
Northern Territory: 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
ROUND 3
5pm Saturday 28 April
NT Thunder vs Sydney Swans Academy
TIO Traeger Park, Alice Springs, NT
*NT Thunder NEAFL curtain-raiser
ROUND 4
1pm Sunday 6 May
NT Thunder vs Gold Coast Suns Academy
Burpengary Oval, Gold Coast, QLD
ROUND 5
6pm Saturday 12 May
NT Thunder vs Brisbane Lions Academy
TIO Stadium, Darwin, NT
For more information on 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
