Hawks flying into finals full-strength
THE reigning premiers are welcoming back all their big guns on the verge of the AFL Cairns Women’s finals series.
The Manunda Hawks secured the minor premiership on Saturday afternoon and a week off in the first week of the finals as well as bringing back in important co-captains Rose Jorquera and Jennifer Robinson after a month on the sidelines.
Jorquera and Robinson had both missed about a month of footy with knee complaints and Manunda Hawks Women’s president Fiona Sharp was over the moon to see them back in the brown and gold.
“We have been very lucky we have able to get a few wins with our two co-captains out for over a month,” Sharp said.
“Rosie and Jennifer are a big part of our team as leaders.
“They have done all the hard work, the physio has been working on them for four weeks. It is important to get them back before the finals, they needed a few games before finals.”
Hawks secured their 12th win of 2017 with Emily Harding and Michelle Boaden hitting the scoreboard in the victory against North Cairns.
“Our coach is going to have a hell of a time picking a squad for finals as we are starting to get everyone back from injury,” Sharp said.
In the other Round 14 games, Centrals Trinity Beach forfeited their match with South Cairns Cutters.
In the final round of the season before finals, the Hawks face the Bulldogs, while the Cutters face the Tigers. North Cairns 1.1-7 1.1-7 2.2-14 2.2-14 Manunda 0.1-1 2.2-14 3.2-20 5.3-33 South Cairns def Centrals TB on forfeit
“The biggest thing we have found is our academy and NEAFL team have become so close,” said Suns NEAFL coach Stephen Daniel. RECOVERING: Manunda Hawks AFL Cairns womens captains Rosie Jorquera (left) and Jennifer Robinson are returning from time off the field due to knee injuries. ALL of Cairns Netball Association’s talent of officials and players packed into the Cazalys Room on Saturday night for the annual Cairns Netball Presentation Night.
The night kicked off with a bang, the annual Suede Hair Show, stepping back to the ’80s.
The Cairns Pythons models were amazing in their retro outfits and hair display.
The evening was jam packed, with the presentation of the Cairns Pythons Rep Awards, the Marlins State League annual awards, Cairns Netball End of Season Awards and the Shangri-La MVP Awards.
The Marlins state league awards were: Most Valuable Player, Heidi Wilson; Players’ Player, Chloe Frederickson; Most Improved, Eleanor Horsborgh; and Coaches’ Award, Jenna Singleton. The rest of the awards were: Junior Umpire of the Year, Tatiana Robati
Intermediate Umpire of the Year, Courtney Ford and Bayley Parsons
Senior Umpire of the Year, Brodie Handebo
Junior Sportsperson: Angelina Kick-Peteres
Senior Sportsperson: Wendy Stafford
Coach of the Year: Kylie Hustwick
Volunteer Cheryl Cook
Nicole Dempsey Division 1 MVP: Emily Allen
We also had the chance to interview the coaches of the Cairns Saints division one team and the Sharks division one team.
Both teams are pumped for the Cairns Netball semi-finals this week.
Both coaches feel it will be an extremely close game and tipped their team to win by seven and five.
The two teams have beaten each other and every time they play each other it is amazing netball. Do yourself a favour if you have a free hour this Friday night at 6.15pm and get down to the Martyn Street Netball courts. of the Year: