Tuggeranong Thunder History with the ACTWAFL
Following the inaugural ACTWAFL Season a couple of young teenagers, Jen Tyler and Helen Jones, decided to organise a team from Tuggeranong. The team was called the Thunder and it was originally coached by Barry Ransom. The team was immediately successful with a set of twins being its best players, Jane Baker and Pam Housenlogge, who were also named in the All-Australian Team after representing the ACT at the 1999 Nationals.
Since joining the ACTWAFL in 1999, the Tuggeranong Thunder has the proud record of competing in the final series in every season they have participated. This proud record had been over shadowed by a series of finals disappointments, including four consecutive Grand Final defeats from 1999-2002, until the Thunder finally broke through for their maiden premiership by defeating two time Premiers Eastlake in the 2004 ACTWAFL Grand Final.
Tuggeranong has also had its fair share of individual award winners including the leading goal kicker three times (Jen Tyler in 2001, Vanessa Mayer in 2002 and Kim Dickerson in 2004), the ACTWAFL Rising Star Stephanie Boxall (2004) and the ACTWAFL Best & Fairest Player Melissa Naughton (2004) and Jacinta Holmes (2005).
Besides Jane Baker and Pam Housenlogge's All-Australian efforts in 1999, Tuggeranong players have also starred for the ACT, notably Talei Owen who was named equal player of the carnival at the 2002 Nationals, and Kim Dickerson who was the ACT's leading goalkicker at the 2004 Nationals.
The Thunder has been lucky to have a core group of players throughout its history. The current games record is jointly held by Kerry Matthews and Vanessa Mayer (71 games). Other Thunder players to have played 50 ACTWAFL Games are Jen Tyler, Eugenie Robinson, Julie Dawes, Jacinta Holmes, Amy Haitsma, Carly McGrath and Pen Clowry and Kim Dickerson (Note these records do not include ACT games).
The Tuggeranong Thunder receives tremendous support from the Tuggeranong Hawks Men's team including resources such as equipment and uniforms, training venues and training staff and in 2008 changed their name to the Tuggeranong Hawks women team.
Last Modified on 05/03/2009 21:02