Revised AFL Cairns 2020 fixtures released

AFL Cairns have released their fixtures for the condensed upcoming 2020 campaign. Find out here where your club is playing for the rest of the season.

Tigers' Jasmine Ware looks to offload the ball. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

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AFL Cairns has averted the need to play midweek games in its condensed 2020 campaign and will stick to its traditional Saturday afternoons.

During the coronavirus shutdown, Friday and Sunday games as well as midweek contests were proposed to get through the season.

In the 2020 fixtures released on Friday afternoon, 14 rounds will be contested on Saturday afternoons and evenings, with the grand final on October 31.

A full reserves competition, which was in doubt last month, is also slated to be contested.

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Some of the seven local clubs were concerned if they had the numbers to fill two sides every week but will at least have a crack at maintaining a reserves competition.

Cutters' Zach Penney squeezes a kick past Alex Galea. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

AFL Cairns football manager Craig Lees said the easing of restrictions around coronavirus allowed the local competition to return to Saturday football.

“It is a straightforward fixture, really, and we are hopeful we can get clubs back to a routine with Saturday afternoon footy,” Lees said.

There are slight changes to the fixture due to clashes with cricket.

Cazalys Stadium is unavailable through September due to international cricket, while Griffiths Park, home of Cairns Saints, is out of action from late September to allow local cricket use of the venue.

Cazalys Stadium being out of action forces Manunda to move a home game across town to Watsons Oval later in the season.

Port Douglas has back-ended its home games at the request of the club, hoping to get more fans into its ground later in the year.

The much anticipated first grand final rematch from last season between Port and South Cairns will be held at Fretwell Park in Round 4.

Bulldog's Tina Welch. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

The league released the first two rounds of the 2020 AFL Cairns Seniors last month.

The Hawks are scheduled to face Souths at Fretwell Park in Round 1 on Saturday, July 11.

AFL Cairns will host a season commencement function next Wednesday at 11.30am at Cairns Zoom at the Reef ­Casino, Wharf St, Cairns.

The league has also ­released the first two weeks of its women’s competition.

FIRST BOUNCE

Round 1 – Saturday, July 11

All men’s games start at 2.30pm

Souths Cairns v Manunda at Fretwell Park, Saints v Norths at Griffiths Park, Cairns City v Port Douglas at Holloways Beach Sports Complex.

Bye: Centrals TB

WOMEN’S DRAW

Round 1 – Saturday, July 11

All games start at 11am

South Cairns v Manunda

at Fretwell Park

Saints v Norths

at Griffiths Park

Cairns City v Centrals TB

at Holloways Beach

Round 2 – Saturday, July 18

All games start at 11am

Manunda v Lions

at Cazalys Stadium

Centrals v Saints

at Crathern Park

North v South at Watsons Oval

Originally published as Revised AFL Cairns 2020 fixtures released