Rising stars set to shine in AFLW’s Cairns curtain raiser

Future Cairns AFLW prospects will showcase their skills in front of some of the game’s top stars with a take-no-prisoners midfielder and silky-smooth ruck ready to renew hostilities at Cazalys stadium later this month.

AFL Cairns have announced that a women's representative game between the under 18s Cairns and Indigenous and South Pacific All Stars will be played before the AFLW game between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Melbourne Demons. Nelly Anu will represent the Indigenous and South Pacific and Lauren Davon will represent the All Stars in the curtain raiser before the AFLW match at Cazalys Stadium on October 24. Picture: Brendan Radke

Future Cairns AFLW prospects will showcase their skills in front of some of the game’s top stars with a take-no-prisoners midfielder and silky smooth ruck ready to renew hostilities at Cazalys stadium later this month.

Powerhouse Victorian clubs, Hawthorn and Melbourne, will take to the Far North field in just 12 days time with the third-placed Hawks emerging as an early premiership favourite, led by veteran skipper and three-time All Australian Emily Bates.

Hawthorn’s Emily Bates in action during the Round Six AFLW match against the Fremantle Dockers at Fremantle Oval, on October 06, 2024, in Perth, Australia. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

But the game’s curtain raiser between the Cairns and the Indigenous South Pacific (ISP) All Stars will likely attract the attention of several league scouts keen to see the region’s best talent battle each other in the under 18s representative match.

Cairns’ Lauren Davon and the ISP’s Nelly Anu will be among the most promising talents on the field with the pair’s preparation ramping up in the lead-up to the big game.

“I’m very excited,” Anu, 16, said. “I’ve only been playing for three years but it’s fun.

“I just like having a go and being with my friends.”

North Cairns Tigers midfielder, Lauren Davon in action against the Manunda Hawks at Watsons Oval earlier this season. Photo: Gyan-Reece Rocha

Davon, 18, whose favourite player is former Richmond Tigers Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin, said she was eager to play with players she’d previously competed against in the Cairns competition.

“Playing at a higher skill level is always great,” she said. “Rep (games) can be easier in some ways and you’re playing with girls from other teams which is fun.

“You get to know other people better too.”

Just like Martin did, Davon dons the yellow-and-black for North Cairns Tigers and enjoys fending off opponents with a swift palm to the chest.

“My older brothers were playing when I was younger so I just fell into it pretty much,” she said.

“My first rep side was when I was 13. I’m mostly a rover. But I kinda just play for fun, to be honest.”

Nelly Anu of the Cape York Eagles was named best on ground in the Under 17 Girls AFL Cairns grand final in 2023. She also plays for Cairns City Lions in the women’s competition. Picture: Supplied

Last time the talented duo played against each other was in the AFL Cairns women’s grand final with Anu’s Cairns City Lions claiming a seven-goal win over Tigers.

But neither is looking forward to playing against each other again.

“Not really,” Davon said laughing. “She always wins in the ruck, so that’s frustrating.”

Anu added: “Lauren’s a really good player and brings some entertainment to the game. She makes it harder for you because she’s just so good.”

First bounce for the All Stars clash is at 4.15pm with the Hawks taking on the Demons at 6.45pm on Thursday, October 24.

Originally published as Rising stars set to shine in AFLW’s Cairns curtain raiser