Local club stacked with former AFL talent

If all the pieces fall into the puzzle at the right time, a local club might just boast the highest credentialed AFL Cairns team in the history of the competition at some point in 2020.

STRONG SIDES: Lions players Brodie Deverell and Luana Healey will compete in the Dreamtime by the Sea clash against Tigers’ Shay Warburton and Fitzroy Greenwool, with both teams sporting special jerseys with indigenous designs. Picture: BRENDAN RADKE.

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If all the pieces fall into the puzzle at the right time, Cairns City Lions might just boast the highest credentialed AFL Cairns team in the history of the competition at some point in 2020.

Many of Aaron Davey’s first few sides at Holloways Beach all had footballers with long careers at the top level.

But, they were all well over the hill, including Shannon Motlop, his brother Alwyn Davey and Austin Wonaeamirri.

In 2020, following the shutdown of many Victorian leagues, Lions have eight former AFL players at their disposal, with most of them still in or not far past their prime.

How many of those will be in Cities colours regularly remains to be seen.

Cairns has secured 3 AFL games, with two teams using Cairns as a hub while Melbourne is locked down due to the coronavirus. Former AFL player Aaron Davey is now coach of the Cairns City Lions as is looking forward to top flight games being hosted here. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

But, we are likely to see a stack of them together on Saturday, including son of champion Michael, Jake Long, Ashton Hams and the electric Ross Tungatalum – all for the first time in Cairns.

The athletic Long is planning to relocate to FNQ from Darwin, with his pregnant partner previously being from Cairns.

Tiwi Islander Adam Tipungwuti is also looking to move to Cairns after training with AFL club North Melbourne through the pre-season and was set to play VFL before them, before the second wave in Victoria.

“We just needed to get the clearances in before the system closes,” playing-coach Davey explained.

“Looking at a few other local clubs, too, there is a lot of very good players who may be coming to the competition.

“We are really happy with how we have recruited, despite being 0-2, we have to take the positives from it.

“Ross has not played much lately, but he will still be OK.

“These players will being great exposure to our competition.”

Lions, who have started the campaign with defeats to Port and Manunda after playing finals last year, host their annual Dreamtime by the Sea clash against North Cairns on Saturday afternoon.

It is always a special day on the local AFL calendar.

Cairns has secured 3 AFL games, with two teams using Cairns as a hub while Melbourne is locked down due to the coronavirus. Former AFL player Aaron Davey is now coach of the Cairns City Lions as is looking forward to top flight games being hosted here. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

“It is a big weekend for us every year,” Davey said.

“It is a great show of respect to our great culture, express the culture, with the dancing, it is more than just a footy game.

“We have got guys who are not indigenous and they are learning, our young boys are being embraced by the older indigenous guys to learn about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture.”

North coach Ronnie Burns is a chance to make a playing return on Saturday afternoon in the Round 3 contest.

Beau Pennefather-Motlop has designed Lions’ 2020 Dreamtime by the Sea jumper.

HIGH END TALENT AT CITY LIONS

Originally published as Local club stacked with former AFL talent