APY Thunder heading north for Remote Talent Football Game

14 October 2025

A group of 30 talented Under-18 footballers from remote communities will head to Santa Teresa in the Northern Territory to take on Remote Central Australia as part of the 18 and Under Remote Talent Football Game with SANFL.

Representing APY Thunder, the 30 players are chosen from nine SANFL APY League teams – including Amata, Ernabella, Fregon, Imanpa, Indulkana, Mimili, Mutitjulu, Pukatja and Wintjalangu. They will take on Remote Central Australia from 7pm (ACDT) at Santa Teresa Local Stadium, on Thursday, 16 October.

The match will provide players from both teams the opportunity to play representative football, with many players not having the chance to do so regularly.

It is also a crowning moment to cap off the season for the APY League, with selection in the APY Thunder team highly-regarded, and for many players, the first opportunity to be involved in a football match of this nature.

“The Remote Talent Football game is a celebration of talent, culture and community,” SANFL Community Football Umpire and Operations Lead Matthew Northcott said.

“It’s great for these young footballers to showcase their skills on a representative stage – an opportunity they often do not have.”