How your AFL Cairns club shapes up
The annual transfer market has been like we have never seen before across the AFL Cairns competition. The Cairns Post looks at all seven clubs’ movements of quality players ahead of the 2020 campaign, which will start this week.
News
Don't miss out on the headlines from News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Two more NQ horses test ‘positive’
- Inquiry into jockeys ride at Cannon Park
- CTB Bulldogs kids give Wallace heart
- Local footy to stay in usual timeslot
The annual transfer market has been like we have never seen before across the AFL Cairns competition.
Your local footy club may have attracted a big name or two in March, but will they be in FNQ come this weekend with border restrictions and expensive flights?
JORDAN GERRANS looks at all seven clubs’ movements of quality players ahead of the 2020 campaign, which will start this week.
PORT DOUGLAS
2019: Premiers, finished the regular season with a 14-2 record.
Three key inclusions: Jarred Erlandson (NTFL), Todd Shapter (Kangaroo Island Football League), Miles Bridgland (AFL Sydney).
Three exits from last season: Adam Boone (North Pilbara Football League), Brett Meredith (AFL Queensland), Wes Glass (Cairns Saints).
The verdict: They have lost a number of premiership players but former GWS Giants academy member Miles Bridgland looks a ready-made replacement.
SOUTH CAIRNS
2019: Runners-up, 14-2.
Inclusions: Simon Bates and Daniel Weetra (NTFL), Joel Karwan (Manunda).
Exits: Alex Rogers (Farrer Football League), David Welch (AFL Queensland), Isaac Ketchen (Ellinbank & District Football League).
The verdict: It was tough to select just three key inclusions for the Cutters; they have got a stack of them and will be hard to beat in 2020.
Gun on-baller Ketchen has a clearance coming and going from the Cutters, so it remains to be seen if he will be around this season.
CAIRNS CITY LIONS
2019: Finished third on the ladder before exiting in the first week of the finals, 8-8.
Inclusions: Ashton Hams (NTFL), Ben Speight (Ovens & Murray Football League), Chris Moloney (Ballarat Football League).
Exits: Daniel Mooka (South Cairns), Mitch Vasterink (AFL Queensland), Tom Keygan (Tasmanian State League).
The verdict: If Lions can get Hams and Speight to Holloways Beach regularly, the two former AFL-listed footballers will be worth the price of admission.
MANUNDA HAWKS
2019: Finished fourth on the ladder before exiting in the second week of the finals, 7-9.
Inclusions: Josh Smith (NTFL), William Woldt (Port Lincoln Football League), Terry Ryan (AFL Queensland).
Exits: Joel Karwan (South Cairns), Chris Novy (Saints), Cameron Gauci (retirement).
The verdict: The brown and gold have lost plenty of talent and experience and have not looked to add much. It could be a long year at Cazalys Stadium if there is not some late transfer activity.
CAIRNS SAINTS
2019: Finished fifth and missed finals, 7-9.
Inclusions: Wes Glass (Port Douglas), Chris Novy (Manunda), Dylan Mcconachy (Western Region Football League).
Exits: Jack Philp (unlikely to play), Mark Horne (CTB Bulldogs), Brayden Bux (Southern Football Netball League).
The verdict: While Saints have seen a fair few quality footballers depart, they have also been busy replacing.
A proud club, they will be desperate to bounce back from not playing finals in 2019 and will be around the mark later this year.
CENTRALS TB
2019: Finished sixth and missed finals, 6-10.
Inclusions: Mark Horne (Saints), Tom Eltringham (North Central Football League), Kade Wilson (Hume Football Netball League).
Exits: Reece Munster (Cairns City Lions), Jack Keating (West Gippsland Football Netball Competition), Darcy Cram (AFL Townsville).
The verdict: The Bulldogs have recruited smartly, picking up guys who have been instrumental in the competition in years before. They had a stack of quality moving up from Noosa before the coronavirus shutdown, which looks set to go on hold now until next season.
NORTH CAIRNS
2019: Did not win a game and finished last with a percentage of just 9.10.
Inclusions: Ronnie Burns (senior coach), Peter German (football manager), Danny Floyd (Pyramid Power).
Exits: Tait Giffard (Oatlands District Football Association), Travis Thorne (Perth Football League), Tim Van Loenhout (Southern Football Netball League).
The verdict: German and Burns are unlikely to get a kick in 2020, but they are going to be the biggest pick ups at Watsons Oval.
If the coach and footy manager can get things right, the Tigers will be on the right track.
The numbers have been strong at training and hopefully North will be competitive once again.
FIRST BOUNCE
Round 1 – Saturday, July 11
All games start at 2.30pm
Souths Cairns v Manunda at Fretwell Park
Saints v North at Griffiths Park
Cairns City v Port Douglas at Holloways Beach Sports Complex.
Bye: Centrals TB
Originally published as How your AFL Cairns club shapes up