NT footy legend Russell Jeffrey wants black, white and ochre to dominate NT junior guernseys

TERRITORY footy great Russell Jeffrey wants Territory Thunder’s junior representative sides to wear the traditional white, ochre and black jumper

Cameron Ilett in the traditional Territory colours in a 2011 match at Gardens Oval.

TERRITORY footy great Russell Jeffrey wants NT Thunder’s junior representative sides to wear the traditional white, ochre and black jumper.

Thunder adopted black and yellow jumpers with lightning flashes when they entered the former QAFL in 2009, a theme that has drifted down to their under-18, U16 and schoolboy sides.

A 24-time NTFL representative player, Jeffrey played big parts in the success of the 1988 Bicentennial team and the 1994 indigenous All Stars.

AFLNT Hall Of Famer Russell Jeffrey

That heritage, wedged in between a spectacular playing and coaching career at Wanderers and Palmerston, makes him one of the most respected figures in Top End football.

“It’s something that’s been eating away at me for a long time,’’ Jeffrey told the NT News.

“And that’s why our Thunder sides at national championships aren’t wearing the traditional black, white and ochre jumpers.

“I’ve got kids running around in representative sides and I’ve got to say, it hurts me to see them running around in Thunder guernseys.

“None of the opposition sides have changed their jumpers since the day dot and here we are wearing a guernsey that represents a football club, not the Territory as a whole.’’

Jeffrey stressed the opportunity was still there for authorities to revert back to the jumper he and a galaxy of stars like Michael McLean, Cadji and Dennis Dunn, Mark Motlop and Nathan Buckley wore with pride.

Wins over Essendon, North Melbourne, Sydney, Glenelg and Fremantle in those halcyon days always carried the stamp of the Territory.

“While I appreciate Thunder do wear the black, white and ochre during Heritage Round, but our juniors playing in national carnivals should be wearing them at all times,’’ he added. “It’s just wrong. Not wearing the right jumper takes away the prestige of representing the NT and I’m sure a lot of people feel the same way.

“Every other representative team wears the black, white and ochre to my knowledge, the only ones that do not are our Aussie Rules sides.’’

Jeffrey remembers the prestige that came with representing the NT in Australian football and the chance to pull on the jumper. “I would love to see that guernsey brought back at representative level to reflect the whole of the Territory, not a club that plays under the NT’s banner.’’