Where was the consultation in AFLNT decision to pull Thunder out of the NEAFL and VFLW?

LONG serving Territory Thunder coach Xavier Clarke wants some questions answered on his former club’s sudden exit from the NEAFL program

Three-year Territory Thunder coach Xavier Clarke is flabbergasted at the lack of consultation in the decision to axe the program’s NEAFL and VFLW sides.

LONG serving Territory Thunder coach Xavier Clarke wants some questions answered on his former club’s sudden exit from the NEAFL program.

Thunder was officially removed from the NEAFL and VFLW competitions this week in order to place a greater emphasis on junior pathway programs and remote projects in order to get more Territorians on AFL and AFLW lists.

“There are a lot of questions from my point of view after being involved there for so long,’’ Clarke said

“From a logical point of view I think it’s a decision that’s been made very quickly without much consultation through the while process.

“I know there was a review done in 2017-18 around NT Thunder and what it would look like in the future and there was no real mention of that at the time.

“Most of it was based around building stronger talent pathways through the Thunder brand.

“So I’d like to know what the change of thought is between ‘17-18 to now and the re-direction, because I don’t think it’s legitimate excuse based purely on numbers and funding.’’

Clarke said the Territory’s draft history of getting an average of one player a year drafted to an AFL club meant numbers of draftees was not logical excuse.

He wants to know who was involved in the decision making and who was consulted and spoken to in order to get to the decision to pull Thunder out of southern leagues.

“My understanding was that none of the players knew about it until it was revealed in the NT News,’’ he said.

“I hadn’t heard about and a lot of other people involved at Thunder in a high capacity were never spoken to.

“Whether that would have changed the thought processes around it, maybe not, but I would have thought there was some process around it to make a final decision on Thunder’s future.

“The three years I was coach were great times, we had so many remote kids playing state league footy.’’

Clarke said Thunder always had its knockers and doubters, but he is confident having a side in the NEAFL did a lot more good than harm.

“No what happens to a young kid at the under-18 nationals and doesn’t get drafted?’’ he said.

“It’s the 19, 20 and 21-year-olds who finish outside the talent program and are not involved in the talent program and have to move interstate that I’m concerned about.’’