Cutters aim for AFL Cairns glory after ‘disappointing’ campaign

South Cairns Cutters will put a “disappointing” 2020 behind them as they eye a return to the biggest fixture of the AFL Cairns season.

South Cairns Cutters will put a “disappointing” 2020 behind them as they eye a return to the biggest fixture of the AFL Cairns season.

The Cutters finished third, level on points with Cairns City Lions, but lost four of their last six games as they crashed out after a preliminary final loss to Saints.

South Cairns duo Lachlan Smith and Zachary Penney PICTURE: ANNA ROGERS

Less than four months on from that disastrous finish, in which they were beaten by 38 points in a finals clash remembered more for a major on-field stoush, the Cutters are looking for a more positive end to their 2021 campaign.

And coach John Tootell said the club’s young guns would play a big role in that push.

There’s been some turnover in the senior ranks, with Tootell saying the club had lost a few players for work reasons and retirement, but it’s the young men starting their journey in senior footy who will not only fill that void, but also thrive.

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“Guys like Zac Penney, who was great in the Colts last year and played a few games of seniors, he’ll likely be playing a lot of senior footy this year,” Tootell said.

“There’s a few kids coming through our juniors and colts who could feature.”

Others, like Boston Oches and Riley Ackers, could expected more game time in the senior ranks as the Cutters push to be the team to end Port Douglas’s impressive five-year reign.

The Crocs have dominated the AFL Cairns senior competition over the past few years, and won their fifth-straight flag in 2020 after a 30-point win against Saints.

Cutters' Jake Roach. Picture: Stewart McLean

South Cairns were on the wrong end of a 34-point grand final margin the year before, in a season in which the Cutters finished level with the Crocs atop the table.

It was also the Cutters’ third grand final loss in six years.

That is all history and doesn’t affect how Tootell will prepare his troops for this upcoming season.

“We were disappointed last year, a few things didn’t go our way, but our goal is always to get into and win the grand final, regardless of who we have to play,” Tootell said.

The Cutters are training across several fields this pre-season as lighting upgrades continue at Fretwell Park.

AFL Cairns will release the senior men’s and women’s fixtures this week.

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Originally published as Cutters aim for AFL Cairns glory after ‘disappointing’ campaign