Territorians reeling from key outsHE'S a picture of fitness but NT Thunder coach Michael McLean, 44, won't be tempted to pull on the boots despite his side's injury crisis threatening to derail their season.
The Thunder meet Brisbane Lions in a highly anticipated clash Darwin this weekend. The NT team, which had to call on their runner and conditioning coach to play in their Round 11 match against QAFL strugglers Western Magpies last weekend, have an injury list that reads as long as the kilometres the side has covered in their brief history.
Here's a brief summary: Gone with season-ending knee injuries are Aaron Motlop and Shannon Rusca, classy on-baller Simon Munkara couldn’t make the team last Saturday, Mark McLean hurt his shoulder against the Magpies, key-position player Kevin Tandogac broke his jaw in his first game for the Thunder, Matt Cannard has an ankle strain, Jackson Emblem has a suspected broken right hand and skipper Jarred Ilett has groin soreness from last weekend's match.
Compounding this is the loss of Damian Roe, who was dropped for not meeting club criteria which stipulates that 'all players must engage in some form of work, study or traineeship'. Roe was the QAFL's Round 9 Rising Star nomination, the Thunder's third this season behind Tiwi Islander James Puautjimi and West Australian Deon Gordon.
The fourth-placed Thunder and fifth-placed Lions have 28 premiership points apiece with just .55 percentage points separating them. Their match on Saturday is a return match of their Round 3 encounter at the 'Gabba which saw the AFL club's reserve side teach the Territorians a football lesson.
However, with the under-18 Thunder side's national championship campaign ending yesterday, McLean and his assistants are likely to call on some of the youth brigade to fill in key gaps.
DARREN MONCRIEFF
Darren@AboriginalFootball.com.au
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Last Modified on 02/07/2009 18:22