It was a hot day at Watsons Oval, but those who came to the ground Saturday got a magnificent day of football. It was an all around successful opening day of the season for the Tigers and Cairns AFL with plenty of spectators coming down to enjoy the weather and watch the footy. Most of the crowd watched the games from the new covered area right on the sidelines at the clubhouse and witnessed another battle between these clubs, with the Tigers geting the first points of the season against a hard to beat Port Douglas Crocs.
MyStyle Homes North Cairns Tigers 13.13.91
defeat Port Douglas Crocs 10.9.69
REX Liddy-powered North Cairns proved their preseason buzz was not all talk with a fast-finishing defeat of the Port Douglas Crocs at Watsons Oval on Saturday.
Recruitment and retention has transformed last year’s also-rans into a legitimate premiership threat and that was all on show as the Tigers withstood a Crocs side that did not go down without a fight.
Leading by 15 points at three-quarter time, the Tigers stretched out in front of a healthy home crowd to finish 13.13 (91) to 10.9 (69) winners.
“It’s a fantastic win for the club, under the new roof (at their developed clubhouse) with a good few people here,”
Tigers’ player-coach Kane Richter said.
The stage was set before the bounce when a minute’s silence was held for Graeme Elliot, a former Port player, who tragically died late last month.
It was Norths who channelled that best though, kicking four goals to the Crocs’ two behinds in a wind-assisted first quarter.
Port responded to peg the lead back to one goal by the half-time break.
It was an even contest in the third term but then Liddy, whose last game in Cairns was for the Gold Coast Suns against Richmond last season, had the final say with three final-quarter goals to seal the result.
He was too crafty for the Port defence, effortlessly finding open space to which his midfield obliged by hitting him on the chest.
Liddy was released by the Suns this season when the first Cape York AFL product could not commit to the rigours of the sport. But he was back enjoying his footy in front of friends and family, kicking six goals and setting up several others to help the Tigers home.
“Yeah he was good, he warmed into the game; realised where the boys were kicking the ball,” Richter said. “As he gets a bit fitter we’ll get him back on the ball.”
Fellow recruit Adam Mueller was equally impressive in defence, while Richter was clean and concise in the midfield and Dwayne Bosen electric at both ends of the park.
Ben McCartney, one of the few remaining players in a drastically new-look Port team, kicked three goals, including a booming left foot effort.
Rowan Handley and Dylan Wearmouth were both impressive in their AFL Cairns’ debuts.
“They’ve got a lot of fresh faces but they were fantastic; after that quarter time break they smashed us. They’ll be one to watch,” Richter said.
Tigers rivals next week, Cairns Saints, romped home against last year’s premiers Manunda to set up an intriguing Easter Monday clash between the two teams most have tipped will battle for the premiership.
