AFL Cairns: Banged up Tigers fall in the final term to clutch Cutters
Huge performances by Liam McCarthy and Cody Schutt have powered the Cutters to their first grand final appearance in five years following a two-point victory over the Tigers at Cazalys Stadium.
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Huge performances by Liam McCarthy and Cody Schutt have powered the Cutters to their first grand final appearance in five years following a 8.9 (57) to 8.7 (55) victory over the Tigers at Cazalys Stadium.
Tigers goal machine Alex Pulling (three goals) shot his side out to a 15-point margin at quarter time but at a great cost, with superstar forward Fitzroy Greenwool (ankle), player-coach Sam Hughes (calf) and winger Lewis George (calf) all succumbing to injury.
After levelling the scores at halftime, Cutters crawled their way in front after Liam McCarthy, Damien Hill and Cody Schutt broke the game open in the fourth quarter.
Swans legend and Cutters coach Daryn Cresswell said it was a tough four-quarter arm wrestle.
“I thought their were patches players fell out of the game, but then came back into the game and had influential moments,” Cresswell said.
“It’s really tough conditions to know when to go slow and when to go quick with the breeze and pierce through the (opposition), especially when the Tigers roll back; they don’t run off and expose their back 50. They’re a strong side, who are really tough to play against and I was really pleased with the players’ endeavour to find a way.”
Petri Pulled Back
With punishing backman Jermaine Wardle suspended for the game and lockdown defender Luke McKeown suffering an injury early.
Key forward Karl Petri was thrown into defence to match-up against 200cm Tiger Jason Tom.
Petri, who came through the Cutters junior ranks, stood up and was brilliant in the backline taking four intercept marks.
Cresswell named ex-Docker Ryan Nyhuis as superb behind the ball, while Jamie Wells changed the game.
“(Wells) is lightning fast, powerful and strong,” he said.
“We knew he could handle Fitzroy (Greenwool), but when he went down early, it was a perfect matchup because Pulling had gotten away from us (three goals). I thought Wells was fantastic.”
At the other end, Tigers defenders Alick Nai, Hayden Spiller and captain Darcy Keast were dominant and half-back Jahmahl Jenkins-Clive had a game high 32 disposals.
All four couldn’t have done much more for their side, clamping the Cutters to their second lowest score of the season.
Welcome back Welch
After missing four months of footy with a knee injury, gun forward Billy Welch returned to the Tigers side for his first game since round three.
Welch had a strong start to the 2024 campaign, booting nine goals in three games and certainly didn’t lose his speed upon his return.
He rejoins an exciting fleet of fierce forwards at the Tigers, but coach Sam Hughes can’t seem to field the dangerous attackers at the same time.
Greenwool (42 goals), Pulling (36 goals), James Neale (28 goals) and Isaac Sinnott (20 goals) and Welch have all missed games at different stages this season, with Greenwool the latest that looks set for a stint on the sidelines.
Son of a Gun
18-year old Joshua Cresswell, son of Daryn, has quietly become one of the recruits of the season for the Cutters.
The Sandringham Dragons gun has owned his spot on the wing with a number of strong performances and racked up 25 disposals and 10 marks on Saturday.
Cresswell said the team will welcome former Southport Shark Tyler Roos, Jermaine Wardle and skipper Beau McKeown back into the side for the grand final.
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Originally published as AFL Cairns: Banged up Tigers fall in the final term to clutch Cutters
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