Northern Territory Academy

Northern Territory Academy
Names
Full name	Northern Territory Thunder Academy
Nickname(s)	NT Thunder
Club details
Founded	1979; 46 years ago (1979)
Competition	Talent League Boys Talent League Girls
Ground(s)	TIO Stadium
Uniforms
Home (historic) Away (historic)

The Northern Territory Academy, nicknamed NT Thunder, is an Australian rules football development team based in the Northern Territory (NT).[1][2]

NT Thunder currently fields teams in the under-19s Talent League Boys and Talent League Girls competitions, playing a handful of games each season without being eligible for the premiership.[3][4]

A senior NT Thunder club previously existed from 2008 until 2019, competing in the Queensland Australian Football League (QAFL), North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) and VFL Women's (VFLW).[5]

History

The Northern Territory joined the under-17s National Championship as the Northern Territory representative team in 1979.[6]

In 2000, the club joined the TAC Cup (later known as the NAB League and currently known as the Talent League). The club lost the two games it played, one against Sandringham Dragons and the other against Geelong Falcons.[7]

NT Thunder did not compete in the 2017, 2018 and 2019 seasons. The club was scheduled to compete in the 2020 season, however it was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

In 2021, the club returned with a side in the NAB League Girls competition for the first time.[9]

See also

• Brisbane Lions Academy
• Gold Coast Suns Academy
• Greater Western Sydney Giants Academy
• Sydney Swans Academy

References

1. McLennan, Chris (13 April 2018). "Katherine players make NT Thunder U18s". Katherine Times. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
2. "TEAMS: Coates Talent League Boys Round 5". AFL.com.au. 27 April 2024. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
3. Alvaro, Michael (19 April 2024). "2024 Coates Talent League: Northern Academies". Rookie Me. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
4. Williams, Peter (11 June 2024). "2024 CTLG team review: Northern Territory". Rookie Me. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
5. "Thunder no more: AFLNT confirms no NEAFL and VFLW teams". AFL.com.au. 12 September 2019.
6. "NORTHERN TERRITORY U18S 1979 SEASON". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
7. "NORTHERN TERRITORY U18S 2000 SEASON (TAC)". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024. Retrieved 12 June 2024.
8. "NT THUNDER ACADEMY WFC 2020 SEASON (NAB)". Australian Football. Archived from the original on 12 June 2024.
9. "CAZALYS NT THUNDER ACADEMY ENTER THE 2021 NAB LEAGUE". AFL Northern Territory. 22 May 2021. Archived from the original on 16 March 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2024.