AFL Cairns: Saints juniors march to glory, Lions girls claw past Dogs

Sharpshooters Charlie Lawrence and Daniel Statton have powered Saints to the under-17 premiership.

Cairns Saints Under-17 celebrate premiership victory against South Cairns Cutters Under-17. AFL Cairns Juniors. Photo: Cairns Saints Media

Sharpshooters Charlie Lawrence and Daniel Statton have powered Saints to the under-17 premiership.

Cairns Saints fearless youngsters have marched their way to a 14.11 (95) to 4.4 (28) victory over the South Cairns Cutter to secure the AFL Cairns under-17 boys premiership.

Statton (three goals) and Lawrence (four goals) were dominant in the forward line at Cazalys Stadium with Statton, a national netball player, winning best on ground after a long road back from a dislocated shoulder.

Saints' Harley Bell makes a difficult kick in the AFL Cairns Under 17B grand final match between the Cairns Saints and the South Cairns Cutters, held at Cazalys Stadium, Westcourt. Picture: Brendan Radke

Teenage sons of guns Cooper Glass and Harley Bell both capped off stellar seasons with strong grand final performances, while captain Darby Drake led the side from the front.

X-factor ruck Frederick Thompson was sublime while Sean O’Reilly finished the game with two goals.

Saints' Frederic Thompson tackles Cutters' Mahkarni Mitchell-Corrie in the AFL Cairns Under 17B grand final match between the Cairns Saints and the South Cairns Cutters, held at Cazalys Stadium, Westcourt. Picture: Brendan Radke

Bell was electric off the half-back flank using his potent right boot to orchestrate attack.

Coach Connor Kirtley in his first year as coach constructed a strong defence which has led Saints to 13 victories and one loss in the home and away season, before sweeping aside the Manunda Hawks (80-16) and Cutters in the finals.

Saints vice captain Daniel Statton handballs in the AFL Cairns Under 17B grand final match between the Cairns Saints and the South Cairns Cutters, held at Cazalys Stadium, Westcourt. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cutters after a strong season just didn’t have enough firepower on the final day but the top-tier talent was on display.

Cutters vice-captain Zane Tuckett was tough in the contest and hit the scoreboard in the third quarter.

Cutters Captain Deakin Lawson, who was recently crowned the Reg Lillywhite Medal for the league’s best and fairest, was strong in the midfield.

Saints' Cooper Brennan gets a kick away in the AFL Cairns Under 17B grand final match between the Cairns Saints and the South Cairns Cutters, held at Cazalys Stadium, Westcourt. Picture: Brendan Radke

Cutters key forward Preston Friend finished with a major after finishing the year as the competition leading goal kicker after reaching an incredible 45 goals (47 goals including finals) during the home and away season.

Meanwhile, in a nerve racking final quarter, Isabella Turner slotted a fourth quarter finisher to claw the Cairns City Lions under-17 girls past the CTB Bulldogs 2.8 (20) to 2.4 (16) and secure the premiership.

Cairns City Lions celebrate under 17 girls premiership. AFL Cairns 2024. Photo: AFL Cairns Media

Bulldogs jumped out of the gates in the opening quarter with Sophie Heathcote and Ella Johnston both hitting the scoreboard.

Lions, who remarkably have the four leading goal kickers of the competition: Delphina Day (30 goals), Lucy Dorahy (20 goals), Turner (17 goals) and Amelia Martin (11 goals),

simply couldn’t find their way in front.

That was until the final quarter where Turner clutched the game at the death and snatched the premiership cup away from a tough Bulldog side.

Lions gifted forward Martin was awarded best on ground.

Earlier, the North Cairns Tigers under-15 boys side led by Nate Lillie (four goals and Travis Larkins (two goals) and Oscar Fatnowna defeated the CTB Bulldogs under-15 boys side 8.5 (53) to 6.11 (47).

The CTB Bulldogs under-15 girls led by Mia Frost (two goals) and sisters Savannah and Lacey Bell defeated the Cairns Saints under-15 girls side 5.9 (39) to 2.2 (14).

Originally published as AFL Cairns: Saints juniors march to glory, Lions girls claw past Dogs