Former premiership captain lifts the lid on how the Saints turned into a powerhouse team

FORMER Cairns Saints premiership winning captain and president speak out about the legacy for the women’s team. OUT OF BOUNDS >>>>

FORMER Cairns Saints premiership winning captain and president speak out about the legacy for the women’s team and how it all came together. OUT OF BOUNDS >>>>

Cairns Saints 41-game legacy

IF you had have said the Cairns Saints will win three flags in their first five years in AFL Cairns women’s competition, you probably would have been laughed out of the room.

The most successful team in the mens competition, Saints brought in its first women’s team in 2018, bringing the competition to five clubs.

They went down to South Cairns Cutters by 12 points in their first ever game, followed up with a 101-point thrashing at the hands of North Cairns Tigers.

The teams first win came in round five against the Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs, winning by 53 points.

Saints' Kate Fowles and Poppy Boltz find space in the AFL Cairns women's match between the Cairns Saints and the Manunda Hawks, held at the Buchan Street field, Portsmith. Picture: Brendan Radke

The Saints would go onto win five more games in 2018, in a year that former captain Kate Fowles described as a really fun year.

“We lost games by a hundred points and got smashed in a couple of games that year,” Fowles said.

“But we had fun and that was the main thing with all the girls that started the team, we just wanted to have fun.

“We made the grand final in 2019 and lost and then everyone knows what happened after that.”

In 2020, the Saints lost in round 11 to premiership favourites Cairns City Lions by 41 points, it would be the last time they lost for the next 41-games.

The Saints won the 2020 grand final by 47 points over the Tigers, then went undefeated in 2021, defeating the Hawks in the grand final by 38 points, before winning by 54 points in the 2022 grand final against the Lions.

In 2022, after the club lost a few players, Fowles said they did not expect to go undefeated two years in a row.

“Players moved away, they retired so we just expected that we would lose some games that year,” Fowles said.

“The external noise from outside the walls of the club wasn’t focused on, I mean we heard it but it didn’t bother us.

“People would talk about the streak and when is going to end but we had no concern over when it was going to.

“if it did then it did, we just wanted to keep playing footy and playing together for each other.”

The Saints went on to win 41-game straight which included three premierships, making it the powerhouse of the competition.

They are even with Manunda Hawks on three premierships and only North Cairns have more premierships with six, having won the first five in a row.

Cairns Saints came from behind in the first two games of the year to stretch the streak to 41 until it ended by the hands of South Cairns Cutters in round three.

Cairns Saints former president Craig Hards. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE

Former president Craig Hards said credit to everyone who has been part of the women’s team since it began.

“We have had a number of players who have gone onto different things, including players who have made the AFLW sides,” Hards said.

“It gave the younger players and other players who were part of the squad but didn’t get much of a chance an opportunity.

“When they first started they weren’t the greatest skilled players but they stuck together, developed their skills and look what happened.”

Turnbull step in right direction

Former Cairns City Lions premiership player Robbie Turnbull pulled on the South Fremantle Bulldogs guernsey for his first senior game in the Western Australian Football League.

Turnbull played two games in the reserves side, where he averaged 25 disposals, dominating though the midfield.

His call up to the seniors side came after former Adelaide Crows utility Jordan Gallucci injured his shoulder in the round three win over Peel Thunder.

Turnbull said it has definitely taken his game to the next level.

Robert Turnbull of the Lions in action during the Cairns AFL Cairns City Lions vs Manunda Hawks on Saturday at Cazalys stadium. Picture Emily Barker

“These guys are a class above anything I have played against, they have helped me just work on all aspects of my game,” Turnbull said.

“The level of training is at such a high standard, it is great with how everyone does help everyone as well.

“It took me a couple of weeks to get into it but I was pretty happy with my first hit out.

“Got the call up to replace Jordan (Gallucci) as we play a similar sort of role.”

Derrington continues to shine for Suns

A Cairns Saints gun is making massive strides towards an AFL dream after a strong performance for the Gold Coast Suns to start the season.

Will Derrington played in his second VFL game for the Suns in a massive victory over Richmond at Punt Road Oval in Victoria.

Derrington said his game continues to get better and better every week.

“I am learning a lot of different things about my game and how I need to work on certain things as well,” Derrington said.

“There was one play where I sort of dived on the ball and was tackled immediately and was pinged for holding the ball.

“And as much as it sucks getting pinged, it was good for me to learn because at that level you don’t have a lot of time to make mistakes.”

Will Derrington has played two games for the Gold Coast Suns VFL side so far in season 2023. Picture: Supplied

Derrington debuted for the Suns in the round one win over Williamstown before senior players came back the following week from injury, pushing him back into the under-18s.

He took what he had learned back into his game for several weeks before earning another call up back into the side.

“I played limited minutes this game against Richmond but that was part of the plan with the coaches,” Derrington said.

“Running out onto Punt Road was an unreal feeling, so much history at that ground.

“Didn’t stand next to any players from the Tigers that I had watched before but from what I was told they had 6-7 AFL listed players playing.”

The Suns defeated Richmond by 73 points in the round six clash and will now host the Casey Demons on Saturday May 6.

Derrington is hopeful he can maintain his spot in the side.

“I would love to keep my spot, I have learnt a lot over the two games I have played in the VFL,” Derrington said.

“But I know, if I go back into the 18s then I will take what I have learnt and keep challenging myself to get back into it.”

AFL School Cup a success

AFL Cape York have had a successful tournament in the School Cup in Cairns winning three of their six matches.

Cairns hosted the annual event with the some students who travelled from Thursday Island to play in the tournament.

Years seven to nine students travelled from TI and Bamaga to take on six of Cairns schools on Tuesday.

The nine girls from Thursday Island flew in on Monday night to meet up with the rest of the squad from Bamaga, it was the first time the full squad was together.

AFL Cape York development co-ordinator Kieran Sciberras said there was a bit of work to get the whole group down for the event.

India Nevill from Tagai State College with the ball during the AFL School Cup. Picture: Nuno Avendano.

“The logistics of it was the toughest, trying to get flights, accommodation and everything organised for the whole team,” Sciberras said.

“It is the first time we have brought down girls from Thursday Island to play in the event.

“We play three games on Tuesday and then the finals, followed by dinner at the AFL girls house.”

The Bamaga-Thursday Island side will take on Smithfield Senior High School, Newman Catholic College and St Andrew’s Catholic College on Tuesday morning at Watsons Oval.

“Thursday Island doesn’t have a full sized football oval so it will be interesting to see how they go,” Sciberras said.

The girls defeated Cairns State High School, Newman Catholic College, St Monica’s College and drew with Smithfield State High.

The squad finished the trip at the AFL Girls House where they met Edna-Grey Muhamad who was the lady who designed the guernsey.

Originally published as Former premiership captain lifts the lid on how the Saints turned into a powerhouse team