The Northern Territory news Mon 22 Jun 2015
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2015-06-22
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English
Community newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin; Australian newspapers -- Northern Territory -- Darwin
News Corp Australia
Darwin
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News Corp Australia
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019C00042
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/258151
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/505580
MONDAY JUNE 22 2015 JUST FOOTY 17 V1 - NTNE01Z01MA GREY MORRIS NT Thunder coach Xavier Clarke with Lochlan Dhurrkay in Sydney at the weekend Picture: GREY MORRIS ANY doubters on what the Thunder philosophy means to remote indigenous communities around the Northern Territory should look into the eyes of Lochlan Dhurrkay. The 20-year-old made his NEAFL debut against Aspley last week and impressed several judges with his poise under pressure and sublime disposal skills. Born in Nhulunbuy but Lochlan making mark for community GREY MORRIS with family connections on Elcho Island, a 55km x 6km stretch of land near the Wessel Islands group off the coast of East Arnhem Land, it was Dhurrkays country and his people he thought of when he ran out for Thunder for the first time. My mum, dad and all of my brothers and sisters are all proud of me playing for Thunder, especially now Im on the big stage, he told the NT News before yesterdays clash against Sydney University in Sydney. Hopefully if they all stay fit and focused they can do this too. Im the one who did not touch the drugs and things like that and its got me this far. His uncle Gary played 72 games for Fremantle and North Melbourne, including the Dockers first AFL game in 1995 and his brothers and cousin Sammy and Gavin Dhurrkay are regular NTFL players. I used to play basketball but didnt like it really, it was when I moved to Kormilda College for school and started playing for the Palmerston Magpies I knew Aussie rules was No. 1, Lochlan said. I played under-16s, U18s and now A-grade for the Magpies, on the wing, up forward sometimes and in the centre. Dhurrkay said he was surprised when Thunder coach Xavier Clarke rang him last week to tell him a spider bite had laid captain Aaron Motlop low and he was in the side. I got a big surprise, I was an emergency and next minute X called me and told me I was playing. I was excited for myself and my family, he said. The NEAFL is the same as the NTFL, but the rules are a little bit different. It was great being out there wearing a Thunder jumper. And the AFL? Id like to play in the AFL but I know there is a lot of work to do, he said. TERRITORY Thunders national under-18 campaign ran into a Maroon wall on Saturday when they lost to Queensland by 72 points on the Gold Coast. An injury ravaged Thunder were in the game at halftime when they trailed by 26 points despite some inaccuracy in front of goals, but midfielder Ben Keays 37 touches inspired the Queenslanders to a big second half and a 17.10 (112) to 5.10 (40) win. Thunders Wanderers premiership player and Norwood midfielder Davin Ferreira was stretchered off in the first quarter with a suspected dislocated ankle and is in doubt for the remaining games against NSW-ACT and Tasmania in Melbourne this week. Brandan Parfitt copped a corked thigh in the first half but still finished with 13 disposals, Ezekiel Frank had some good moments and Darwin Buffalo Michael Hagan and Pioneer wingman Jamie Hampton were good contributors for Thunder. Coach Andrew Hodges said it was now a case of his players regrouping and looking for ways to improve their game before meeting NSWACT in Geelong on Saturday and Tasmania at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. We want to work on parts of our game we know we can improve on as we showed with the win over TAC Cup side Northern Knights, Hodges said. Weve proven we can do it and even with a few changes to the side Im sure youll see a different team against NSW-ACT in a few days time. NORTHERN TERRITORY SCOREBOARD IN WEDNESDAYS The NTs most comprehensive compilation of world, national and local sporting results GIBSON Turner plays his football with precision and class and that was how he described his six weeks away from Territory Thunder. After missing six weeks with some family issues, where I had to be back home to deal with them, Im back with the Thunder squad and really Under-18s marooned on Coast Gibbo thunders back looking forward to playing with them for the whole year now, he told the NT News. Possessed with all the skills required to succeed at a higher level pace, superb kicking and marking skills and the ability to spot up teammates in a better position Turners absence from the Thunder half forward line has been a major talking point since his last match against the UWS Giants in Round 4. The 21-year-old makes a welcome return to the Thunder side this week after looking after his family and dealing with some cultural issues at his home in Santa Teresa. My hammy was also giving me some grief, but after being at home, resting up and not travelling it helped me out and it feels a lot better now than it was then, the man they call Gibbo said. Its made me really hungry and I cant wait to get out there every week now, I dont want to miss any more Thunder games, thats how I feel right now. I even had a few games for Federal in Alice Springs and played really well. I kicked four goals in one match (against Rovers) and three against Pioneer where I felt even better, so Im getting a kick and really enjoying it. As I said, I want to be a big part of every game from now on. Hopefully I can make a difference in the forward line with my forward pressure and kicking goals. Turner also confirmed he will line up with NTFL club Nightcliff again after speaking regularly on the phone with Tigers coach Damian Hale. Ill be back with Nightcliff next season, I had a good season with them last year and hopefully I can step it up some more next season when all the Alice boys will be back, he said. And Ive got a few other boys under my wing as well you will see in a Tiger jumper and playing some really good footy up there. Its going to be a good year for us at Nightcliff. Turner was less enthusiastic about pulling on a Redtails jumper if the Centralian rep side gets a regular gig at Port Adelaide Magpies curtainraiser matches. Im not too sure yet, he said. Ive been thinking about it, Ill have to see how the body pulls up after this season and the NTFL straight after that to when I have a couple of weeks to rest up. Grey Morris grey.morris@news.com.au