DARREN MONCRIEFF
Monday, June 27, 2011
ALICE Springs' Charlie Maher was back in familiar surrounds at the weekend but by 5pm last Saturday he was in an altogether unfamiliar mood.
The bubble that was a 10-game winning streak has burst for Maher's NT Thunder side which suffered its first defeat of the season at the weekend.
The Thunder, which competes in the new North East Australian Football League (Northern Conference), has a large Indigenous contingent since inception.
Its first coach was AFL Indigenous Team of the Century's Michael McLean.
Maher (pictured) was among the Thunder's best, using his trademark zip in finding the ball in the wide, open expanse that is Traeger Park where he learnt his footy with South Alice Springs in the Central Australian Football League.
However, for all Maher's hard work he couldn't carry the Thunder by himself, and his team suffered its first loss of the season, falling to Aspley by 40 points, 15.9 (99) to 8.11 (59).
The Thunder were without Indigenous trio Bradley Palipuaminni, former Brisbane Lion Jason Roe, and former St Kilda draftee Ross Tungatalum for the match.
Despite the loss, Thunder maintains its top spot on the NEAFL ladder with 40 premiership points (10-1), three games clear of Mt Gravatt and Gold Coast (11-7, 28pts) with Aspley in fourth (11-6, 24pts).
Next up for the NT side is its first cross-conference match when it hosts the GWS Giants in Darwin, which is coached by AFL legend Kevin Sheedy and has rugby league convert Israel Folau in its line-up.
The Thunder's charter is to 'assist in inspiring young Indigenous people to participate in sport in order to contribute to improved education, employment, training, health, leadership and wellbeing in Indigenous communities'.
AboriginalFootball@westnet.com.au
Last Modified on 08/07/2011 00:55