SOUTHS A CUT ABOVE HAWKS

MANUNDA Hawks have missed their chance to repeat as premiers, losing to a hardrunning South Cairns Cutters at Cazalys Stadium on Saturday morning.

Led by three goals from the experienced Ellie Rundle, the Cutters made the most of a strong breeze in the first and third quarters to run away 4.3 (27) to 3.2 (20) victors in a physical encounter.

Best-on-ground Kitara Farrar and fellow midfielder Shantel Ripia were standouts for the Cutters, helping the underdogs withstand a late charge from the Hawks.

“When the rest of us ran out of legs, they really stepped up for us and did a great job,” Rundle said.

“We’ve got a really good mix of young girls and some older players who jelled together really well this season.”

Like many players, Rundle couldn’t even play AFL until the women’s competition started in Cairns.

“Obviously, it’s great to be able to play,” she said.

“I started umpiring at high school when there was no women’s footy but I have been playing since the women’s competition first got going in 2002.”

Cutters coach Troy Munro said the win was a product of the hard work put in by the players since January.

“Hawks have been the benchmark and it’s made me really push our girls,” he said.

“The girls adapted to what I wanted to do and the style of footy I wanted to play.

“We worked really hard on our cardio this year and I felt all season like we had the ability to outrun teams at the end. We started preseason really early this year and my main focus was on our running before we even touched a ball.”

Munro also paid tribute to his wife, Josephine Izumi, who played in the match.

“She also manages the team and without her I don’t think I’d be able to do this,” he said.

Rundle, who is the wife of former Cutters and Hawks legend, Kevin, said the win would help fuel the debate as to who is the better player in the family.

“After 15 years (together) we’re still arguing that one,” she said.