REVEALED: Top 50 AFL Cairns players from 2021, No. 50-1
Nine Cairns City Lions players roared their way on to our rankings of the top 50 players from 2021. SEE FULL LIST HERE >>>
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The Cairns City Lions did the unthinkable in 2021, pulling off a fairytale finals run that saw them winning their first flag in 28 years.
While only four Lions were named to the AFL Cairns Team of the Year in 2021, nine of their best players managed to land themselves a spot on our top 50 players from the season.
Whether it was Tom Lindermayer launching goals from half forward, or player coach Aaron ‘Flash’ Davey commanding the team to finals win after finals win, the Lions had plenty of talents to be proud of last season.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE LIST
Nine dominant Saints pepper AFL Cairns top 50 players rankings
To say the Cairns Saints were stacked with talent in 2021 is an understated given.
The minor premiers commanded the highest number of players in the AFL Cairns Team of the Year with seven making the squad of 23, including player-coach Wes Glass.
In their 10 home and away season wins, the Saints outscored their opponents by an average of 101 points.
Add to that a resounding 58-point victory against the vaunted Port Douglas Crocs in the semi final.
Falling victim to the Cairns City Lions’ fairytale season in the grand final aside, the Saints will return in 2022 with plenty of firepower to get back into flag contention.
Scroll below to see which Saints made it into our top 50 from 2021.
Cairns’ top 10 AFL players revealed
What a season it was for the AFL Cairns clubs in 2021.
Hearts were broken and history was made with the Cairns City Lions pulling off a Cinderella story for the ages in winning their first flag in nearly three decades.
As we move into 2022, the Cairns Post has ranked its top 50 players from the 2021 season.
Players needed to have suited up for at least nine home and away season games to be considered for the list.
Let us know if you think any player was snubbed from the list, or if someone was ranked higher/lower than they should have been.
You can leave your thoughts in the comments below, or email sport@cairnspost.com.au.
50. Brad Johansen
South Cairns Cutters
The new Cutters coach proved equally adept on the field in 2021, showing signs of leadership at half-forward particularly in games against the Hawks in July and the Lions in August.
49. Brodie Deverell
Cairns City Lions
Another leader in his respective locker room, Deverell’s on-field direction and bullish play style set the standard for his premiership-winning team’s finals push.
48. Brandon Kilty
Port Douglas Crocs
A firecracker who helped the Crocs’ midfield hum in 2021, Kilty’s standout moment was a 60m bomb from outside 50 against Manunda in June.
47. Daniel Davidson
Port Douglas Crocs
One of the more seasoned Crocs on the roster in his fourth year with the club, Davidson again proved to be a clutch player in all areas of the field.
46. Jackson Williams
Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs
The former Bulldogs skipper showed himself no slouch this season, Jackson still demonstrated his skill in generating entries for the team as it trended upwards this season.
45. Sean Connelly
Cairns City Lions
Speedy Sean Connelly joined up with the Lions in 2019 and never looked back; the centre-half forward had one of the highest average clearance rates per game in the league at seven.
44. Brett McKeown
Port Douglas Crocs
A long-time Croc who didn’t slow down in 2021, McKeown’s veterancy in the midfield makes him a vital cog in Port Douglas’ return to premiership contention.
43. Jamahl Jenkins-Clive
North Cairns Tigers
After another tough year for the Tigers, this team best and fairest runner up once again proved to be a dependable on-baller averaging more than four tackles a game.
42. Harrison Sinclair-Stanley
Cairns City Lions
Averaging a major and six marks a game, Sinclair-Stanley was one of many Lions forwards who showed the consistency necessary to win a premiership in 2021.
41. Harrison Payne
Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs
Another handy Harrison in their respective side’s forward line, Payne punished opposing backs with an impressive average of eight marks and three goals a game.
40. Will Reilly
Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs
It was not necessarily a goal-heavy season for Reilly, but the half forward was vital in generating attacks for the Bulldogs, all the way until their elimination final loss to the Lions.
39. Ezekiel Frank
Manunda Hawks
A solid forward inside 50 for the Hawks, Frank led the team in average goals per game with two paired with high disposal and mark averages.
38. Wes Glass
Cairns Saints
The Saints coach not only led the juggernaut to a minor premiership, Glass carried his fair share on the turf applying pressure just about everywhere.
37. Jarrod Peake
Cairns Saints
Sidelined with an injury just as the ruck was hitting his stride, Peake came back to boot eight goals against Souths to end the season, play well in finals and get himself on the Team of the Year.
36. Nick Thacker
Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs
Not much could get past Thacker in 2021; on average per game nearly half of the half back’s marks this season were intercepts.
35. Liam Maiden
Cairns City Lions
Maidens’ work on the flanks was pivotal for the Lions this season, efficient in lane generating and taking nearly nine marks per game.
34. Josh Matulis
Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs
His club named him their most determined player in 2021 for a reason – the rover notched more than four clearances and 21 disposals a game.
33. Branden Deslandes
Cairns City Lions
Another player named most determined this season, young gun Deslandes could line up anywhere on the oval and make an impact for the Lions.
32. Zac Straker
Cairns Saints
The centre-half forward was named to the Team of the Year for a reason this season, creating opportunities for his fellow forwards while booting plenty of his own majors.
31. Josh Gall
Manunda Hawks
An on-baller named to the Team of the Year, Gall showed ferocity in his third year particularly in the clearance and tackling game.
30. Tom Lindenmayer
Cairns City Lions
Lindenmayer – despite predominantly playing midfielder – managed to notch on average nearly two goals a game along with plenty of other impressive stats to pad out his quality resume this season.
29. Jake Roach
South Cairns Cutters
Handy with a bat and football, the multiskilled forward had his shining moments in the ruck and inside 50, averaging two majors and 15 hit outs a contest.
28. Jacob Zboril
Cairns Saints
Zboril represented both the Saints and the North Queensland with poise in 2021, booting plenty of multi-goal games in the pocket adding to the nigh on unstoppable Saints forward line.
27. Dane Watmuff
Cairns Saints
Ball hawk is an understatement for this full back, Watmuff led the league in intercept marks with 3.5 a game this season.
26. Elia Ware
Manunda
As well as being on the Team of the Year and best utility for Manunda, Ware put up solid numbers on every statistic possible in 2021 making his value to the Hawks immeasurable.
25. Kanja Kamara
Cairns Saints
The Saints’ best and fairest for 2021, Kamara embodied the side’s ability to fight for possessions and attack the loose ball.
24. Josh Lea
Port Douglas Crocs
Another seasoned Croc who had himself a career year in 2021, Lea was Port’s best and fairest runner up.
23. Lachlan Rhook
South Cairns Cutters
A nasty collarbone injury keeps Rhook from higher in this list, but the midfield menace wreaked havoc on opposing mids when he was on the field. Rhook will take his talents to the Bulldogs in 2022.
22. Alex Carter
Manunda Hawks
A fan of Dustin Martin in both playstyle and arm tattoo-wearing, Carter led the Hawks in average disposals per game with 24.
21. Troy Barbero
Manunda Hawks
Averaging five marks and five tackles as well as 22 disposals a game was no easy feat; Barbero’s wholemark season had him as runner up best and fairest for the Hawks in 2021.
20. Beau McKeown
South Cairns Cutters
The Cutters newcomer brought with him much needed skill and reliability up the midfield in 2021 – he was runner up best and fairest for Souths and ranked second in average disposals per game for the club with 24.
19. Duncan Seden
Manunda Hawks
Seden showed his quality late in Manunda’s season, but nonetheless the half forward lined up well for his team averaging a goal, six marks and nearly 24 disposals a game. He was also named the players’ player of Manunda in 2021.
18. Josh Barnett
South Cairns Cutters
Lining up in the pocket of AFL Cairns’ Team of the Year, Barnett’s goal per game average of four was aided by an insane 16-goal game against North Cairns in August.
17. Josh Mawson
Port Douglas Crocs
One of the Crocs to show fight in their finals losses, the young half forward continued to show the Crocs are far from done as contenders next season.
16. Daniel Moore
Port Douglas Crocs
A utility to be feared in 2021, Moore was second only to another Croc lower on the list in average disposals (25) and marks (5) per game.
15. Jack Taylor
Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs
The Bulldogs’ best and fairest had a career season for the side in 2021. Lining up at centre hold back on the league’s Team of the Year, Taylor averaged two intercept marks and nearly a goal per game.
14. Dillon Rogers
North Cairns Tigers
North’s best and fairest in 2021, Rogers’ hard-nosed playing was not to be trifled with this season.
He was one of the only players to average more than 25 disposals, four marks and three tackles per game.
13. Nick Matthews
Port Douglas Crocs
It was hard to protect the back pocket better than Matthews in 2021.
His work in stoppages earned him a spot on the Team of the Year and Port’s best backman.
12. Beau Flint
Cairns City Lions
The aggressive young midfielder continued to make major strides in 2021, making the Team of the Year thanks to his ability to apply pressure and protect the ball.
His efforts in the grand final against the Saints were particularly impressive, earning him player of the match honours.
11. Cade Wellington
Cairns Saints
The Saints skipper was only able to line up for nine regular season games in 2021, but made every one count as his team continued to hunt for a flag.
Averaging nearly two goals. 25 disposals and five tackles a game, Wellington was a true leader this season in every sense of the word.
10. Jake Long
Cairns City Lions
The former Essendon listed player dropped plenty of bombs for the Lions in 2021.
As well as being on the Team of the Year, the half back was Cairns City’s best and fairest and played a key role in the side’s finals campaign.
9. Aaron Davey
Cairns City Lions
Flash’s work in building a flag-winning franchise aside, the former Demon was as pivotal on the field as off it.
Defensively, the 2020 coach of the year’s experience was invaluable in pressurising entries, and averaged nearly 24 disposals per game.
8. Tom Jenkins
Cairns Saints
Topping the minor premiers in average disposals (26.9), marks (five) and clearances (six) per game in 2021, Jenkins Team of the Year-calibre season played a big role in the club’s dominant campaign.
7. Kye Chapple
Port Douglas Crocs
Quick hands and aggression inside 50 saw this full forward to the Team of the Year in style. Chapple’s average of five goals and seven marks inside 50 per game made the kicking machine a spectacle to behold at the Port Douglas Sports Complex.
6. Adam Gross
Cairns Saints
The Saints would not be the goalscoring machines they were in 2021 without Grossy.
The unit averaged nine marks a game – seven of which were inside 50 – per game this season, but his true talent lied in kicking goals in spades.
Gross’ Team of the Year season saw him average an absurd six goals per game.
5. Jake Johansen
South Cairns Cutters
Another Team of the Year Player who balled out in his respective position, Johansen showed no mercy at half forward.
The Cutters’ best and fairest loaded the stat sheet with an average of three goals, 27 disposals, six marks, three clearances and nearly two tackles per game making him a prized piece of the South Cairns side eyeing a resurgent 2022.
4. Robert Turnbull
Cairns City Lions
One of, if no the most imposing players to take to the field in 2021, Turnbull’s on-field presence was almost palpable.
Named to just about every Lions club award imaginable in 2021, as well as the Team of the Year, Turnbull’s ability to find separation at the forward line made him hard to stop.
The on-baller boasted a stat sheet with averages of 33 disposals, seven marks, three tackles, seven clearances and two goals a game.
3. Luke Morgan
Centrals Trinity Beach
Another unstoppable force to light up the statistics in 2021, the Bulldogs player-coach lived up to the hype this season.
With an insane 40 disposals, nine marks, 3.9 tackles, five clearances and two goals a game, Morgan had the ability to single-handedly change the tide of a game.
As his club continues its push for a premiership in 2022, the midfielder’s influence will only get stronger in 2022 which should make other clubs very concerned.
2. Mark Horne
Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs
No one showed greater finesse and mindfulness in their game this season than Horney.
The Crathern medallist’s split-second decision making was second to none, with a knack for placing the ball exactly where it needed to go when it needed to be there.
Averaging 38 disposals and team highs in tackles (four) and clearances (six) per game for the Doggies, there was no stopping Horne in 2021.
His marquee performance came against North Cairns where Horne tallied a ludicrous 62 touches.
1. Liam Brandt
Port Douglas Crocs
When the steely gaze of Brandt locked into focus, you knew your team was in trouble.
There was no impact play for the Crocs this season the Crathern medallist wasn’t a part of, tearing through contests like tissue paper and always leaving with the ball.
The first-year Port Douglas on-baller, best and fairest as well as best player in finals embarrassed many an opposing player with his elusive – yet bullish – play style.
If the Crocs needed Brandt to score, he scored (one goal per game av). If they needed him to tackle (five), clear the ball (six) and make crucial marks (six), he could do those too.
Brandt was the embodiment of a player who got the job done at any cost in 2021.
Honourable mention. James Ingram
The former South Cairns reserves player proved the laws of speed were no obstacle in the grand final, stunning the crowd by winning the half time sprint handily against the league’s fastest players.
Who did we miss? Let us know in the comments below.
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Originally published as REVEALED: Top 50 AFL Cairns players from 2021, No. 50-1
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