Suns Academy young gun shines on Coast

FAR North AFL player Shawn Watson is making his impact felt on the Gold Coast.

Watson, 19, has been in the Gold Coast Suns Academy systeam for several years but is eligible for Southport selection when not required by the Suns.

Standing 196cm tall and weighing 94kg, Watson hails from the Cairns Saints, where he played alongside current Suns listed midfielder Jack Bowes. Watson has pace, is strong and has good hands.

“In the corresponding game last year he took two hangers and kicked a couple of goals against us,” Sharks football manager Jarrod Field said.

Watson played for Surfers Paradise against Labrador in a QAFL game at the weekend and did a good job at centre half-back on the competition’s leading scorer Bryce Retzlaff.

■ CAIRNS Saints junior Charlie Dixon reached 100 games in the AFL at the weekend. It was a dirty weekend for his footy club but the big man had a solid game, grabbing seven marks and kicking a goal against Melbourne.

“It took me longer than most but it is pretty good to reach the milestone from where I have come from,” Dixon said. “There has been a lot of injuries.

“I had forgotten all about it until my dad told me a couple of weeks ago.”

The Power conceded the first six goals of the game against the Demons and despite a second-half fightback were never really in it.

■ FORMER Far Northbased jockey Wanderson D’Avila was at his brilliant best on Townsville on Saturday.

Over the seven races at Cluden Park, the Brazilian-native booted home three winners.

He opened with Monaco Rocket in the first event of the day for John Manzelmann, Knowing Me, again for Manzelmann, was his second before the Darryl Johnstontrained Isa Tala made it a treble in the last race.

Cluden Park will host the Hygain Townsville Guineas QTIS Three-Years-Old Handicap this Thursday.

■ MONTANNA McAvoy went so close at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas.

The Innisfail product and former Trinity Anglican School student finished fifth in the 3000m.