Charli Simmonds and Brooke Campbell from the Big Rivers Region will take part in showcase matches at the TIO Stadium in Darwin on September 24.
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Two dynamic groups of young men and women will represent the Northern Territory at the Cazalys NT Thunder Academy NAB AFL and AFLW League Championship Challenges in Darwin.
The second NT NAB AFLW Under 17 Championship Challenge game comes after a clash on September 17 - the first time AFLNT have held a National Under 17 Female Championship game in Central Australia.
The squad welcomes J'Noemi Anderson and Annabel Kievit who return after representing the Gold Coast SUNS in last Sunday's NAB AFLW Under 17 Championships game in Queensland against the Brisbane Lions as part of AFLNT's ongoing partnership.
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The squad also features Brooke Ponter, sister of AFLW Adelaide Crows Premiership Player Danielle and Sophie Berry who also represented the Cazalys NT Thunder Academy and played up at an Under 19 level earlier this season.
Charli Simmonds and Brooke Campbell from the Big Rivers Region are making their way up the highway to join the second game's squad.
AFLNT Talent Manager Simon Hargrave said he's looking forward to what the Game 2 of the Challenge will bring.
"Last weekend's game came right down to the wire with Team Baird edging out Team Ponter by only a point," he said.
"It was such an electric game to watch and with a similar team match up this week, it is sure to be entertaining viewing."
Former AFL player Darren Pfeiffer and emerging female coach Rhiannon Busch will head coach a team each as part of the Cazalys NT Thunder Academy Under 17 Female championships, whilst Lateesha Jeffrey was selected as Senior Assistant.
AFLW Geelong Cat and former Cazalys NT Thunder Academy player Steph Williams will be squad runner for Team Ponter and TIO NTFL Nightcliff Premier League star Eliza Morrison will run for Team Baird.
Hargrave praised the efforts of all coaches who have engaged in our Talent programs across 2021 and to especially see more female coaches becoming involved.
"We have seen Shannon Millar complete her Level 3 coaching accreditation and both Rhiannon and Lateesha have just recently completed level 2," he said.
"I would also like to thank Colleen Gwynne who has been great to have involved in our Cazalys NT Thunder Academy Under 17 program this year."
Following the NAB AFLW Under 17 Championship match, the Male Cazalys NT Thunder Academy squad members from both Under 17 and 19s will come together on home soil and round out their 2021 campaign with a NAB AFL League Challenge game.
Territory players from across the country will join for the Friday evening match, ranging from Adelaide, Central Australia, Gold Coast, Gove, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Tiwi Islands.
"This opportunity will really showcase our Territory talent on home soil and in front aspiring Cazalys NT Thunder Academy players and supporters," said Hargrave.
"It is a great reward for what has been another challenging year due to COVID impacts and to see the top Territory players coming together and playing together and against one another is really exciting."
The NAB AFL Challenge team names will follow the Territory's two recent Gold Coast SUNS draftee's, Joel Jeffrey and Malcom Rosas. Joel will be addressing players this evening when they come together for a captains run, followed by dinner as a full squad, where teams will be announced.
Cazalys NT Thunder Academy Coach Jason Roe and TIO NTFL Palmerston Premier League Coach Josh Heath will be Head Coaching Team Jeffrey and Team Rosas. Shannon Millar, Chris Bryan, Leith Waterbury, Dan Gretgrix, Darren Abbott, Darren Pfeiffer, Peter Andres, Karl Gundersson and Rob Clarke will be Assistant Coaching.
AFL players, Joel Jeffrey of Gold Coast SUNS and Ben Long of St Kilda Football Club will be team runners.
Game Day Details: September 24
5pm - NAB AFLW League Championship Challenge: Game 2
Watch Live: https://youtu.be/uRSBCgzzHrk
See team lists here.
7:20pm - NAB AFL League Championship Challenge
Watch Live: https://youtu.be/XDFT6-mJTlg
See team lists here.
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