Unity key as Saints soaring in AFL Cairns

Cairns Saints women’s coach believes one aspect of their group has led them to a top two position on the AFL Cairns ladder.

Saints' Tess Dahlenberg gets a kick away in the AFL Cairns Women's match between the North Cairns Tigers and the Cairns Saints, held at Watson's Oval, Manunda. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

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Saints women’s coach Chris Novy believes the tight-knit bond between the club’s playing group has led them to a top two position on the AFL Cairns ladder.

Saints, who went down in the 2019 grand final to North Cairns, picked up their second victory over the Tigers this season on Saturday afternoon.

At Watsons Oval, the Tigers led at quarter-time before Saints got going, eventually having 13 scoring shots to just six in their fourth win of the campaign.

Saints' Poppy Boltz breaks free of the pack in the AFL Cairns Women's match between the North Cairns Tigers and the Cairns Saints, held at Watson's Oval, Manunda. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Novy, who also plays seniors for Saints, says he is enjoying his first season coaching the women’s side after crossing from Manunda in the off-season.

Tigers' Tarin Moke shakes off the Saints defenders to get a kick away in the AFL Cairns Women's match between the North Cairns Tigers and the Cairns Saints, held at Watson's Oval, Manunda. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

“The way they work together as a team and the tightness of the group, that is what gets them over the line,” Novy said.

“They are a great bunch of girls and do everything together.

“In pressure situations and when the game is in the balance, they seem to find a little bit more and extra, even if their skill level is not quite up to scratch on the day.

“It was a pretty intense game on Saturday.”

In other Round 6 games, Lions playing-coach Luana Healey had a day out, booting eight of her teams 14 majors in their easy win over South Cairns.

Healey had a helping hand from Gail Sevallos, who also kicked four goals in the commanding performance.

AFL CAIRNS WOMENS

ROUND 6

Centrals Trinity Beach 0.1-1 defeated by 12.9-81 Manunda.

South Cairns 1.1-7 defeated by 14.11-95 City Lions.

North Cairns Tigers 4.2-26 defeated by 6.7-43 Cairns Saints.

Originally published as Unity key as Saints soaring in AFL Cairns