LIDDY’S BACK AT TIGERS
A SWIFT palm to the chest was all North Cairns midfielder Tait Giffard needed to realise the club’s latest AFL recruit could be something special again.
Former Gold Coast Suns utility Rex Liddy has been training with the Tigers after sauntering through the front gate at McNamara St in February, asking if he could have a kick.
Liddy, 26, the first Cape York-born footballer to play in the AFL, has had two stints with the Cairns club since being delisted after his second season with the Suns in 2011.
Giffard, a hard-nosed Tasmanian, said the devastating stiff-arm from the strong-bodied Hopevale recruit during a training drill was one of the best he’d come across.
“Five minutes into training and he put me on my arse,” Giffard said laughing. “It was a good one all right.”
Tigers coach Iaon Drake said Liddy will need to improve his fitness before he makes a return to senior football in the AFL Cairns competition but had shown plenty of flair with the ball in hand.
“He’s come down through the preseason and trained pretty well,” Drake said. “It’s not every day an ex-AFL player comes down for a kick, is it?
“We didn’t even think to recruit him. He got in touch with (co-captain) Travis (Thorne) and decided he wanted to play again after some time off.
“He’s got a bit of work to do. He’s a bit heavy but his experience and skill will be invaluable.”
Liddy is one of at least five former AFL players set to play in the Cairns competition this season with Aaron Davey, Shannon Motlop and Austin Wonaemirri to lace up for Cairns City Lions, while former Sydney Swan Brett Meredith will play for the Port Douglas Crocs.
The Tigers have brought in several key players this season. Giffard said Victorian Tom McDonagh will quickly establish himself as one of the best players in the region.
“Tom is just a freak,” he said. “He can play anywhere and will be used all over the ground. That and getting Sam and Tom McCorkell will be very handy for us.”
The Tigers will face Cairns City Lions and Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs in preseason cup matches on Saturday.