Cairns talent centre stage in NEAFL prelims

THE Cairns-stacked Gold Coast Suns NEAFL side have advanced to the preliminary final against the Sydney Swans this weekend.

The Suns beat the Northern Territory 19.9 (123) to 12.12 (84) at Metricon Stadium on Saturday. Cairns City Lions junior Daniel Charlesworth (pictured) kicked a goal in the win while fellow Far North juniors Caleb Graham, Jacob Heron and Timakoi Bowie also featured.

“The listed boys treat the academy boys all as one team. We are just one team and they all get on really well and we are seeing the benefits.

“To achieve what we have is unbelievable when you look back at the games when we have only rolled out 10 listed players this year.”

■ FORMER Cairns Taipan Corey Maynard’s AFL swap has yielded solid results. Maynard plays for the Melbourne Demons now and will play in the team’s VFL affiliate’s finals.

Maynard, who made his AFL debut earlier this year, was named in the best players as the Casey Scorpions completed the home and away season with an undefeated record at Casey Fields, running away 15-point winners over Werribee on Saturday night.

The Scorpions will take plenty of momentum into next week’s qualifying final, as they meet minor-premiers Williamstown at Burbank Oval. Maynard kicked two goals in the win.

■ CAIRNS runner Montanna McAvoy won the women’s 5km for the second consecutive year in the 21st annual Bridge to Brisbane, raising $650,000 for 219 charities along the way on Sunday.

A crowd of about 30,000 took part in either the 5km or 10km route, many smashing personal records.