AFL Cairns: Our men’s 2024 team of the season
Check out our 2024 men’s team of the season. The dominant forwards in sensational form, the classy midfielders and the defenders anchoring their team’s backlines. See the full side >>
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With only two weekends of footy left for the 2024 AFL Cairns season, we take a look at the A grade players of the competition and combine them into this year’s team of the season.
The sides that finished top four clearly stand out from the rest of the competition.
The hardest task proved to be choosing between the numerous high-quality inside midfielders of the league.
There were enough contenders to make a 22 in itself and although it would have been easy to sneak a couple extra on the wings, we decided to name two pure wingers.
Backline
Ryan Nyhuis (Cutters)
Ex-AFL defender Ryan Nyhuis was an easy selection in the backline.
The former Docker has been key pillar in Cutters surge to top of the table.
Nyhuis ability to come off his man and intercept possession has been crucial, while he is a classy player that is rarely beaten one-on-one.
The key defender turned ruckman was the game changer on Anzac Day when he powered his side back from 40 points down to defeat the Tigers.
Narrowly edged teammates Luke McKeown and Jermaine Wardle who were both outstanding in 2024.
Darcy Keast (Tigers)
The Tigers captain and gritty key defender.
Darcy Keast is arguably the best lockdown defender in the competition.
Often shutting down the opposition’s marquee forward, Keast is a nightmare for forwards.
The number 14 has the tank to run with mobile, high-flying forwards like Tyron Rainbird and Damien Hill one week, while the height and strength to match-up against more dominant forwards like Kye Chapple.
Nicholas Johnson (Lions)
What a return for this powerhouse defender.
After injuries derailed Nicholas Johnson’s 2023 season, he has asserted himself as one of the premier key defenders of the competition in 2024.
Johnson’s physicality and reading of the game make him extremely difficult for forwards to get around, while he is a consistent kick out of defence which helps Lions coach Aaron Davey set-up his side from deepest line.
A strong intercept mark who is not shy of big games, he’s been a key reason Lions have catapulted back into finals this year.
Cooper Cartledge (Tigers)
Tigers swingman Cooper Cartledge has been in outstanding form and proven anchor to the Tigers backline structure, while capable of playing as an impact forward towards the back end of this season.
A strong intercept mark, he is reliable in possession and a key part of the Tigers strong transition game.
Played one of his best games against the Crocs in round two with 34 disposals, nine intercept marks and five spoils.
Liam McCarthy (Cutters)
Should be a serious contender for the Crathern Medal this season.
Liam McCarthy might have the best left boot in the competition and has been a ball magnet for the Cutters again this season.
A consistent rebounder, he has rotated through the midfield using his pinpoint kicking to expose opposition.
Has a rare trait of nailing passes at top speed and has hit the scoreboard with some belters.
Branden Deslandes (Lions)
An extremely talented footballer, Branden Deslandes has racked up possessions across the back half and used his burst and elite kicking to damaging effect.
He had a game-high 39 disposals, 6 marks and 5 tackles against the Saints in round seven, while he hasn’t been afraid to launch a couple from outside 50 and hit the scoreboard.
Narrowly edged out teammate Mitchell Hunter who are both key reasons Lions have made the least turnovers in the league, along with 19-year old Edward Kadlecek.
Midfield
Liam Brandt (Crocs)
Simply put, Liam Brandt has been unstoppable in 2024.
Brandt leads the competition in disposals, clearances and inside 50s.
He rotates on the half-forward line to great effect as a strong goalkicker and may just add another Crathern Medal to his name.
The 2021 Crathern Medalist booted five goals to go with 25 disposals, six clearances and seven tackles in a best on ground performance against the Tigers in round nine.
He backed it up in round 10 with 37 disposals, three goals, nine marks, eight tackles and six clearances against the CTB Bulldogs in two of many great returns this season.
Tyler Roos (Cutters)
A huge recruit in the off-season for Daryn Cresswell’s new look Cutters team.
Former Southport Shark Tyler Roos is a clearance and tackling machine.
His polish in midfield and elite kicking is a crucial reason why Cutters are first in disposals, contested and uncontested possessions this season.
He was awarded best on ground on Anzac Day against the Tigers with 36 disposals, eight marks and six clearances.
When heavily tagged, he’s moved to the half-back flank to damaging effect.
Daniel Charlesworth (Lions)
After a tough 2023 season, Lion have charged into a semi-final this season off the back of an outstanding year by Daniel Charlesworth.
After returning to his junior club in the off-season from the Southport Sharks, it looked like he would line-up next to Nicholas Johnson and captain Sean Connelly as an intercept defender.
However, Lions coach Aaron Davey decided to shift Charlesworth on-ball in pre-season and he’s added another dimension to their inside midfield group.
With his movement between the arcs, he uses his height and agility as a marking target in attack or intercept mark on defence.
He leads the Lions in disposals, clearances and tackles.
Ruck
Ethan McCullough (Crocs)
A huge part of the Port Douglas dynasty over the past decade, ruck Ethan McCullough
had another sensational year at the heart of the Crocs line-up.
McCullough’s agility and work-rate at ground level gives his Crocs teammates the feeling they have an extra midfielder at stoppage.
Bulldogs ruck Caiden Gardiner and Lions tall Matt Eagles were both strong ruck contenders before injuries limited their seasons, while Hawk Joel Callaghan narrowly missed out despite his strong efforts.
Wings
Josh Lea (Crocs)
The best winger in the competition, Josh Lea has consistently run hard between the arcs.
Now in his eleventh season, Lea has been crucial to Crocs structure and is constantly an outlet for his side coming out of defence, particularly through kick-ins and bursts forward for a number of goal assists.
Always barking directions on the field, the best sides on occasion have opted to tag the seven-time premiership player this year.
Brandon Lovell (Lions)
A running machine, Brandon Lovell rarely has a poor game.
Consistently hard at the footy and a tough tackler, he is one of the most experienced players at the Lions, while still charging up and down the wing.
Forward Line
Fitzroy Greenwool (Tigers)
An electrifying forward of the competition, Fitzroy Greenwool has been a goal machine in 2024.
With 42 goals, he finished the season equal-fourth in the race for the Matthew Walsh medal despite missing a number of games.
Often overlooked, Greenwool also brings tremendous forward half pressure to this Tigers team and is a key reason North Cairns are ranked the number one tackling side in the competition.
Joseph Ugle (Cutters)
One of the superstar recruits of the season, Joseph Ugle has been an excitement machine in 2024.
Fierce in the contest and capable of playing all over the ground, Ugle finds a way to be clean through traffic and is one of the unique players of the competition.
Often goes to another gear in the fourth quarter.
Brett McKeown (Crocs)
Spending majority of his career as an ultra-competitive defender.
Seven-time premiership Croc Brett McKeown transitioned into midfield after building his tank in the off-season.
He has been revelation for the Crocs with his elite gut-running, pressure around the contest and ability to hit the scoreboard.
He’s second leading goalkicker at the Crocs with 27 goals for the season.
Damien Hill (Cutters)
An X-factor player of the competition, Damien Hill has spearheaded the Cutters in the forward line.
An immensely difficult one-on-one match-up, Hill is known for his leap and strong marking.
He makes charging leads up the wing to help his side get field position, while consistently making a contest in the forward 50.
The number seven finished the competition equal fourth for the Matthew Walsh Medal with 42 goals.
Narrowly edged out Saints gun forward Andrew Coombe (47 goals) for Hill’s extra work around the ground.
Kye Chapple (Crocs)
After battling injuries to start the season, Chapple crawled his way back to become the second leading goalkicker of the competition.
A sharpshooter with a strong mark, his anticipation for where the ball will be and footy smarts are huge factors why he has over 1000 goals to his name.
With 60 goals for the year, he booted a season-high 12 goals against CTB Bulldogs in round 10 and finished the season with 10 goals against the Cairns Saints in round 18.
Tyron Rainbird (Lions)
Key forwards don’t always end up with MVP honours but Tyron Rainbird should be in contention for the 2024 Crathern Medal.
Rainbird has dominated opposition, from round six to nine, he booted 22 goals often against teams that would double, if not triple him in the forward line.
The Matthew Walsh Medallist finished the season with 63 goals, while leading the competition as both the number one contested mark (49 marks) and forward 50 mark (87 marks).
Interchange
Rory Tarlington (Tigers)
‘Two storey Rory’ has played just about every position in 2024.
Tigers coach Sam Hughes experimented with Tarlington in the forward line to kickstart the season where he booted a season-high four goals (16 for the season) against Crocs in round two in an unstoppable performance.
He was shifted into the ruck later in the year, starting at centre bounces before pushing behind the ball as an extra key defender.
He had a day out in the upset victory over the Cutters in round 10 with 23 disposals, 10 marks (six intercept) and four spoils.
Tom Fields (Cutters)
One of the star recruits of the off-season, the former Carlton Blue has been an impactful player to say the least under Daryn Cresswell in 2024.
Similar to Tarlington, he was worthy of a spot in the starting 18 but difficult to place in a particular position.
The former Southport Shark has attended centre bounces but plays a bit of a quarterback role for the Cutters. Racking up possessions and dictating play using his rifle boot.
Isn’t afraid to have a crack at goal from outside 60 and has had a few stunning goals over the year.
Ben McPhee (Crocs)
Crocs captain Ben Mcphee was the in-form player of the competition in the opening rounds of the season.
A consistent cog in the Crocs tough midfield group, Mcphee leads from the front as their best defensive midfielder while he still hits the scoreboard with 20 goals for the year (third highest scoring midfielder).
A key pillar which allows more offensive Crocs Liam Brandt and Sam Fairclough to play more advanced roles.
Beau Flint (Lions)
Contested beast Beau Flint has had a remarkable year and has played his best footy when it matters most against top three sides.
Flint has had multiple best on ground performances including 28 disposals, eight tackles and five clearances against the Tigers in round six (awarded the Cockatoo Medal).
Tough as nails while always putting in a strong shift on the defensive end, Flint has combined with Charlesworth to form a strong midfield duo for the Lions.
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Originally published as AFL Cairns: Our men’s 2024 team of the season
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