Cupido commits to Crocs

DAMIAN Cupido scoffs at suggestions he is Southern Districts' reluctant recruit.

Cupido

DAMIAN Cupido scoffs at suggestions he is Southern Districts' reluctant recruit.

Darwin's rumour mill had the NTFL record holder for the most goals in a season - 140 in 2012-13 - exiting Freds Pass for good after the Crocodiles' Round 9 loss to St Marys.

Cupido

But the former Brisbane and Essendon goalkicker was back in a Crocodile jumper on Saturday when he booted three goals in Districts' 54-point loss to Wanderers.

"A lot of my time has been taken up with coaching duties at Rumbalara footy club in Shepparton and there was the calf injury I've just got over," Cupido said last night.

"I'm the club's sponsorship and marketing manager as well, so I haven't been able to commute between Melbourne and Darwin as much as I'd like to play footy.

"I'm not sure where these rumours have come from to be honest, because they are all rubbish to me."

Cupido plans to play the last two minor round games against St Marys and the Tiwi Bombers before focusing on another finals series with the Crocodiles.

And there is a sense of wanting to put things right after back-to-back 100-point losses to the Tiwi Bombers and Wanderers in last season's finals.

"I'm looking forward to the finals and I know a lot of the other blokes at Districts are as well," he said.

"There's still a lot of hurt from the way we crashed out in straight sets last season and we're all ready for a big shot this time."

Cupido booted three goals in Saturday's big loss to Wanderers, but he is confident the real Districts side will put its hand up against flag favourites St Marys at Freds Pass next week.

"It was a tough day for forwards and to their credit, Wanderers were quicker with their ball movement and belted us all day on the outside," he said.

"But we've got a very good nucleus of players who can do a hell of a lot better than that. We had some senior blokes out ... I think we're very close to that one day in March and when we get there, look out."