The Northern Territory news Fri 11 Apr 2014
NT news
The Northern Territory news; NewspaperNT
2014-04-11
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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/10070/250455
https://hdl.handle.net/10070/557425
32 SPORT FRIDAY APRIL 11 2014 NTNE01Z01MA - V1 Fire still burning as Ilett hits 100 CAMERON Ilett has led NT Thunder to two premierships, captained the NEAFL representative side, won a league best-and-fairest medal and three club champion awards, and has been named in the NEAFL Team of the Year four times. But he still believes there is more he can offer. The inspirational leader and champion of modern Territory football will add another achievement to his evergrowing list when he runs out for his 100th match in NT Thunder colours against the Gold Coast Suns at Metricon Stadium tomorrow. Ilett, 29, said he originally never set out to play 100 games but every year he returns to help develop the club in an expanding competition. I know Ive been very lucky to win those individual awards but I just think there is still so much more I can do, he said. Ive always believed you are only as good as your last game. Regardless of what Ive achieved in the past, this weekend is how I am going to be judged again. Ive only ever signed a oneyear contract at a time but each year I grow fonder of the program, and I have so many ties that I cant leave. Certainly the competition getting tougher every year really motivates me every preseason to really push myself and remain at that level. Iletts partner Jade, two children, and parents will all fly to the Gold Coast this weekend to see him in action. He said he wouldnt have achieved what he has without them. I have such a wonderful young family and I have such quality people around me that continue to drive me and allow me to do what I love he said. My family, teammates and staff at the club deserve as much credit as I do. Ex-Bronco in the Hunt for Thunder clash RUGBY league convert and Gold Coast Suns midfielder Karmichael Hunt is expected to line up against NT Thunder in their NEAFL clash at Metricon Stadium tomorrow. Hunt has played in the reserves the past two rounds, picking up 19 possessions and six clearances in their loss to Brisbane last week. Gold Coast Reserves coach, Josh Fraser, expects Hunt to be among a dozen senior listed players to take to the field against Thunder. He (Hunt) was named as an emergency (for the seniors) and I think he is pretty close to senior selection, Fraser said. He is just waiting for the opportunity but he is ready to go and playing great football. At this stage our boys are shaping up pretty well and hopefully we can field between 10-12 of our senior listed guys and then bring in some help from elsewhere. The boys who played last week are looking forward to getting out there again and hopefully improving on their performances. The Suns have lost both the opening matches of the season to Southport (30 points) and Brisbane (89). Fraser said it would be another tough clash for the Reserves against the Territory. In terms of identifying an area where we might be able to get NT, its going to be about the basics for us, getting in and winning the footy and making them defend for as long as we can, he said. When I finished playing at the Suns I went up there and played against them they are a bloody exciting team. Getting back on our home deck is a positive for us, but we know its going to be a tough contest. Thats what we want and we arent going to shy away from it. Its all about learning for our guys so we are looking forward to it. NT Thunder ruckman Sebastian Guilhaus will play tomorrow on the Gold Coast after originally being unavailable due to work commitments Picture: ELISE DERWIN Hard work always the best policy GETTING another win on the board early at TIO Stadium over the weekend against Aspley is just what we needed. We all know confidence and momentum play a big part in the game that is football. Our forward line fired against Aspley. We applied good forward pressure, creating turnovers and allowing Darren Ewing and Willie Rioli to kick four goals apiece. The midfield continued their good work around stoppages and, with the inclusion of big Seb Guilhaus, allowed Cam Ilett, Alwyn Davey and Brad Vassal to get their hands on the footy first. Our hard work and total team defence jumped the visitors early and as the game went on the skills of the Thunder players were put on show. I have no doubt we won the game and it wasnt the horrific conditions as reported on the visitors website that swayed the win in our favour. The best thing about football is there is a different challenge each week, and this group of Thunder players will need to step up to the plate once again. Reading the great Leigh Matthews book, there is a quote that stands true in both life and in football. Accept the challenge without reservation or doubt and risk the depression of losing, so you may experience the exhilaration of victory. Each week players will put their bodies on the line, and all I ask from my players is that their effort does not change. Our opposition, venue and weather may change which is out of our control. But the one non-negotiable is 100 per cent effort, by 100 per cent of the team, 100 per cent of the time. By doing this, we give ourselves the best opportunity to experience the exhilaration of victory. This team is a blank canvas and the players are the artist, its up to them what picture they want to paint. Ruckman is bonus as two sit it out FORMER AFL stars Nathan Djerrkura and Austin Wonaeamirri will miss tomorrows NEAFL clash against Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium. Djerrkura is unavailable due to work commitments and Wonaeamirri will be rested after pulling up sore from his first hit-out of the season against Aspley last week. The duo are the only omissions from the side which beat the Hornets by 20 points at TIO Stadium ahead of their first away match of the year. In a big plus for NT Thunder, ruckman Sebastian Guilhaus will make the trip to the Gold Coast after originally being unavailable for interstate trips due to work commitments with INPEX. Defenders Lachlan Argus and Patrick Heenan and ruckman Steven Miles come into the squad for the first time this season. They have been named on an extended bench alongside Matthew Rosier, Neil Vea Vea and Jake Roe-Duggan. The Suns have named midfielder Karmichael Hunt and ruckman Daniel Gorringe to contest Thunder but are expected to field between 10-12 senior listed players for the 3.50pm clash. Thunder coach Xavier Clarke said it will still be a tough battle despite the Suns winless start to the season. It doesnt bother me how many listed players they have, he said. Thats no disrespect to Gold Coast. We have just got to make sure we dont find any excuses. We just have to prepare the way we need to and play that total team defence which we have been focusing on the last two weeks. The match will be streamed LIVE on the NT News website. Log on to ntnews.com.au/ thunder from 3.50pm. GOLD COAST SUNS V NT THUNDER NEAFL ROUND 3, TOMORROW AT METRICON STADIUM, 3.50PM P GOLD COAST NT THUNDER I INTERCHANGE Kieren Brennan Nathan Kenny Zac Callinan Dane Grant Cody Filewood Tyler Cornish INTERCHANGE Neil Vea Vea Matthew Rosier Patrick Heenan Lachlan Argus Jake Roe-Duggan Steven Miles Henry Schade Darren Ewing Jeremy Taylor Willie Rioli Leigh Osborne Pierce Liddle Glendon Woosup Shannon Rioli Jack Leslie Chris Dunne Liam McNevin Abraham Ankers Daniel Gorringe Seb Guilhaus Alex Sexton Cameron Ilett Timmy Sumner Shaq McKenzie Jackson Allen Aaon Motlop Karmichael Hunt Alwyn Davey Jarred Ellis Brad Vassal Luke Russell Ben Rioli Josh Hall Mitchell Taylor Harrison Fraser Errin Wasley-Black Louis Herbert Jack Long Caleb Hay Jonathan Peris Nathan Bock Justin Beugelaar ILETT FILE Age: 29 Games: 99 Recruited from: St Marys Height: 181cm Weight: 85kg Grogan Medal: 2011 Andrew Ireland Medal: 2011 Syd Guildford Trophy: 2010 NEAFL Representative: 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 NEAFL captain: 2013 NEAFL Team of the Year: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 NEAFL Team of the Year Captain: 2011 NT Thunder Premiership Captain: 2011 NT Thunder Club Champion: 2009, 2010, 2013 By JESS WEBSTER NEAFL By JESS WEBSTER NEAFL From the coaches box with Xavier Clarke By JESS WEBSTER NEAFL