Youth and recruits key
Do not try and tell South Cairns coach John Tootell (above) the Cutters will be rebuilding in 2018 with the new leading man at Fretwell Park confident they will be right in the mix again. After challenging over the last three seasons, the Cutters took a step backwards last season as they were sent packing the first week of the AFL Cairns finals.
DO not try and tell South Cairns coach John Tootell the Cutters will be rebuilding in 2018, with the new leading man at Fretwell Park confident they will be right in the mix again.
After challenging over the last three seasons, the Cutters took a step backwards last season as they were sent packing the first week of the AFL Cairns finals
Playing-coach Cameron Campbell decided 2016 would be his last with the whiteboard, focusing on playing, with Tootell, previously at Cairns City Lions and University of Queensland in the QAFL, installed.
With several club stalwarts stepping back from senior footy next season, Tootell is keen to bring in a mix of youth and recruits to the club.
“It is just about taking the next step in September, where we have seemed to struggle the last few years,” Tootell said.
“We have got that nucleus of a great team there.
“We want to introduce some young kids into our senior side and with the salary cap now coming in, you can’t just go out and buy players.
“That puts the focus on developing the youth and that is the plan we will follow.
“We will put some experi“We’re enced heads around the kids to make sure they have got the support.
“We will look to bring in a couple of blokes to strengthen us up as we are going to lose a bit of experience with guys stepping back.”
Cutters youngsters such as Alan Broad, Karl Petri, Lachlan Dupuy, Nathan Caddy, Levi Norsworthy and Safua Nomoa should figure prominently next season.
Cutters president Peter Kennedy has big plans for 2018.
“Our club’s not in a rebuilding phase. We’re thereabouts already,” Kennedy said.
just fine tuning. John comes in to assist us in that fine tuning.
“Youth is a big thing, but also finding the balance with recruits and also just trying to find that next step to play finals football and perhaps another premiership.”
The Cutters boys are staying fit through the summer with Zac Ewer and Damien Dewis regularly turning out for Pint in the NTFL Division 1.
Pre-season training begins for the Cutters on November 21 at Fretwell Park.
IT IS JUST ABOUT TAKING THE NEXT STEP IN SEPTEMBER, WHERE WE HAVE SEEMED TO STRUGGLE THE LAST FEW YEARS. WE HAVE GOT THAT NUCLEUS OF A GREAT TEAM THERE JOHN TOOTELL