Manunda make mark early
IT’S only July but Manunda have all but sewn up an AFL Cairns Women’s grand final spot.
The defending premiers kept South Cairns goalless on Saturday at Cazalys as they claimed their seventh straight win of 2017, 12.11 (83) – 0.1 (1).
The victory put the Hawks three games clear on top of the ladder with the Cutters second.
After a change of format over the summer, the top place finisher in AFLCW goes through to the decider, second plays third, and fourth misses out.
Coach Tyson Lane believes his Hawks can still get better in the back end of the season.
“We did not hide the fact that we set ourselves for this game,” Lane said. “We were talking about it for the last couple of weeks and the girls were really switched on.”
Stephanie Mooka played her first game of the season for Hawks and was busy while Asta Naden, who won a best and fairest with Swan Districts in the WAFL, was influential in her second game for 2017.
In the other Round 7 contest, Miya Healey and Hadassah Nicholson kicked North Cairns to victory over Centrals Trinity Beach. Tigers forwards Healey and Nicholson shared in eight of the club’s 14 goals in the 83point win. Brooklyn Lancaster kicked the Bulldogs’ only goal. Manunda 4.3-27 8.4-52 9.660 12.11-83 South Cairns 0.0 0.1-1 0.1-1 0.1-1 North Cairns 3.1-19 9.2-56 11.470 14.9-93 Centrals TB 0.2-2 0.3-3 0.4-4 1.4-10 NORTH CAIRNS – Goal Kickers: H. Nicholson 4, M. Healey 4, S. Kris, T. Buli, A. Mueller, S. Jack-Tayley. Best Players: S. Jack-Tayley, T. Buli, M. Healey, H. Nicholson, S. Kris CENTRALS TB – Goal Kickers: B. Lancaster. Best Players: E. Grahame, B. Lancaster, J. Cullen, C. Parker, R. Regan, C. Oxlade