AFL Cairns: Lions launch marquee recruit into midfield brigade
Cairns City Lions has launched one of their marquee off-season recruits into the midfield as the Cairns AFL community eagerly awaits the kick-off of the 2024 season this Saturday.
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Cairns City Lions has launched one of their marquee off-season recruits into the midfield as the Cairns AFL community eagerly awaits the kick-off of the 2024 season this Saturday.
After welcoming home former Gold Coast Suns academy defender Daniel Charlesworth back to the club in the off-season from Southport Sharks.
The Lions junior has been deployed by senior coach Aaron Davey into the engine room with the idea of turning the consistent intercept defender into a contested bull.
Charlesworth said he has embraced the positional-change and has looked right at home during pre-season.
“Definitely coach initiated, around January ‘Flash’ wanted to trial the move and see how I’d look with some of the other boys in and around the ball,” he said.
“Played in the backline for the last few years, but we have a strong defence this season which has opened up the opportunity in the inside.
“Certainly not a player that I think that I have the skills of, but watching Marcus Bontempelli and the way he moves as a taller figure in the midfield. He’s someone I can take a few leaves out of his book.”
The 25-year old became a consistent performer for the Southport Sharks in the NEAFL and VFL, journeying to 50 games for the club last season, winning the John Gonard Trademark Award as the players MVP and finishing fourth in the best and fairest.
He has hit the ground running since returning to the club he made his senior debut for when he was 15-years old, already establishing in-game chemistry with 2021 Howard Kennedy Medallist Beau Flint.
The duo will be joined by former-South Cairns Cutter Shaun Ayling, former-West Coast Eagle Ashton Hams, Lachlan Smith and Isaac Helms as a formidable on-ball brigade.
“At this stage of the season as a midfield group, we aim to be interchangeable and stay dynamic,” Charlesworth said.
“We have different players that are getting on the offensive flow of things as well as defend and we want to stay unpredictable to the opposition.”
The 190cm classy ball-user said he is looking to still make an impact in the air with his marking ability, while developing a penetrating kick that can take territory.
At AFL-level, Jack Crisp, Callum Mills, Rory Laird, Will Day and Dyson Heppell have all made successful transitions from defence into midfield and Charlesworth could emulate that impact on a local level.
Charlesworth said he has thoroughly enjoyed his first pre-season under former Demon and two-time AFL Cairns premiership player Aaron Davey.
“Even after retiring he’s still very skilful with a lot of natural footballing ability,” he said.
“He’s great at imparting his read of the game and knowledge on his players and he loves seeing his players succeed. It’s a fun group to be a part of.
“Last year didn’t go the (club’s) way, but I can see the hunger again and I’m excited to see what we can achieve in 2024.”
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Originally published as AFL Cairns: Lions launch marquee recruit into midfield brigade
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