Charity games replace preseason cup
AFL Cairns will play four practice matches this weekend after its preseason cup was rained out last Saturday.
The league had hoped to play a round-robin tournament with the best teams advancing to a grand final this week. But a series of trial games will be played instead, with $2000 worth of prize money, initially meant for the winner, to be donated to charity. Operations manager Craig Lees said the revised fixture would allow clubs to give their players more game time.
“All the teams are essentially playing a match,” Lees said. “The staggered game times also gives teams the opportunity to scout each other.
“For Cairns City Lions and North Cairns Tigers, I think their matches are important as they play the season opener the following week.
“I’d imagine both those teams will be essentially play a side similar to their round one team, whereas the other clubs have the week off.”
Several of the best young Far North players will be missing this weekend with Cairns’ Under 16 representative squad playing in the Queensland Country Championships in Airlie Beach. The squad will take on Capricornia, Townsville, Mackay and Cape York with the best players selected in the Queensland Country Kookaburras.
“Cape York have a very good side,” Cairns assistant coach Kieran Daley said. “They won last year but probably aren’t as strong as they were last year.”