The Little Master: How Ablett will change AFL in Cairns
The greatest AFL player of the modern era wound back the clock in front of thousands of spectators in his Cairns cameo, but Gary Ablett Jnr’s FNQ visit could have a bigger impact.
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The greatest AFL player of the modern era wound back the clock in front of thousands of spectators at a packed Crathern Park, as Geelong and Gold Coast legend Gary Ablett Jnr brought his magic to the Far North.
Ablett Jnr kicked a goal in the first minute of the clash with North Cairns Tigers, the Little Master finishing the afternoon with two goals in the Bulldogs’ 13.9 (87) to 7.9 (51) win in the Wayne Jackson Memorial game.
“It was good fun,” he said.
“This is only the second game I’ve played since I retired.
“I’ve really enjoyed this, a really great group of guys.
“I came up a couple of days ago and got to get out in the community, and it seems like everyone had a really great time today so that’s what it’s all about.”
Ablett played 247 games for Geelong and 110 games for the Gold Coast Suns, winning two Brownlow Medals and two premiership across a storied career which spanned 18 years.
He was the face of the Suns when Queensland’s second club entered the AFL, and solidified his reputation as potentially the greatest of all time throughout his career.
But his few days in the Far North could have the biggest impact.
Ablett said it was through conversations with second-year Bulldog and former Suns teammate Zac Smith which floated the concept of his appearance in the Far North.
Four former Suns - Ablett, Smith, Seb Tape and Josh Hall - turned out for the Bulldogs, with Smith taking home the Wayne Jackson Medal for his performance.
And Ablett’s day out could become one the single most important events in AFL Cairns history.
“I’ve spoken to a few custodians of the game, guys who have been around this competition for 50 or 60 years, and from a home and away perspective they hadn’t seen anything like this in the history of AFL Cairns,” said AFL Cairns general manager Craig Lees.
Ablett entertained hundreds of junior footballers at a training session on Friday before a Q&A session in which he passed on valuable advice to the next generation of Aussie rules footballers.
He signed hundreds of autographers through his long weekend in FNQ, and after Saturday’s game was the star attraction in a Sportsman’s Dinner function in front of 200 people.
And while all eyes were on the game, just the second Ablett has played since his retirement from the AFL after the 2020 grand final, it is the time he spent in the community which will have the biggest and longest lasting impact.
“Credit to Trinity Beach, they just wanted to provide a service and we worked closely with them to get the outcome which was providing the fans with great engagement for the day,” Lees said.
“The amount of kids rolling around in awe of Gary Ablett, getting autographs and just speaking to him, you can’t measure what that will do for the future of footy in Cairns.
“The legacy he leaves as a player is outstanding but the community engagement work he’s done and the social impact he’s had on footy, on community and his charities, that’s the legacy that will keep kids playing our game for years to come.”
RESULTS
SENIORS
PORT DOUGLAS CROCS 5.1 8.7 14.11 18.16 (124)
Goals: Salter 5, Fairclough 2, Hopkins 2, Francis, Gepp, Reynolds, Zboril.
CAIRNS CITY LIONS 0.4 1.5 2.5 5.5 (35)
Goals: Rainbird 2, Aitken, Flint, Motlop at Holloways Beach.
CAIRNS SAINTS 8.4 17.8 27.14 34.18 (222)
Goals: Gross 9, Wellington 6, Colville 2, Straker 2, Blacker, Holding, McConachy, Mrsich, Robinson.
MANUNDA HAWKS 0.0 0.2 0.2 3.3 (21)
Goals: Siviour, not supplied 2 at Griffiths Park.
CTB BULLDOGS 2.2 4.6 7.8 13.9 (87)
Goals: Ablett 2, Cook 2, Manser 2, Smith 2, Fry, Howard, McCoy, Ogilvie, Paterson.
NORTH CAIRNS 0.3 2.6 4.6 7.9 (51)
Goals: Welch 2, Deans, Kirwood, Ryan, Sammons, Tarlinton at Crathern Park.
SOUTH CAIRNS had the bye.
DEVELOPMENT
Bulldogs 11.12 (78) def Tigers 1.7 (13)
Saints 11.12 (78) def Hawks 0.4 (4)
Crocs 12.9 (81) def Lions 8.5 (53)
BULLDOGS GRAB FIRST WIN
Centrals Trinity Beach withstood a mighty North Cairns comeback to secure their first win of the AFL Cairns Women’s competition.
It was always expected to be an arm wrestle as the only two clubs without a win in the opening three rounds faced off, and they didn’t disappoint as they set up a barnstorming final quarter.
The Bulldogs led by 13 points at the main break before the Tigers mounted a stirring third-quarter comeback, cutting Centrals Trinity Beach’s lead to just one point at Crathern Park.
With a breakthrough win and four valuable competition points on the line, both teams locked down on defence as they were restricted to just one point each, sealing the Bulldogs’ 3.3 (21) to 3.2 (20) victory on home soil.
Angelina Brim kicked all three of the home side’s goals, while Sarah Wargent-Ham did likewise for Norths.
Saints succumbed to a second successive loss, as Manunda ran out 10-point winners at Cazalys Stadium.
Manunda led from start to finish against the three-time defending premiers, who put together 41 wins a row before their historic run was snapped by South Cairns Cutters a week ago.
The Cutters remain the only unbeaten team, courtesy of an 18-point win against Cairns City Lions at Holloways Beach.
South Cairns holds an eight-point lead to Manunda atop the table.
RESULTS
CTB BULLDOGS 0.1 2.1 3.2 3.3 (21)
Goals: Brim 3.
NORTHCAIRNS 0.0 0.0 3.1 3.2 (20)
Goals: Wargent-Ham 3 at Cazalys Stadium.
SOUTH CAIRNS CUTTERS 0.0 3.1 5.2 6.4 (40)
Goals: Finlan, Johnson, Matthews, Roberts, not supplied 2.
CAIRNS CITY LIONS 2.3 2.3 2.4 3.4 (22)
Goals: Anu 2, not supplied at Holloways Beach Sporting Complex.
MANUNDA HAWKS 2.0 3.0 4.2 4.3 (27)
Goals: Beki, not supplied 3.
SAINTS 1.3 1.4 2.4 2.5 (17)
Goals: Gliddon, Wheaton at Griffiths Park.
matthew.mcinerney1@news.com.au
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