Demons turn to Cairns
Impressed with Far North, Melbourne mulls camp
MELBOURNE will inspect Cairns’ facilities later this year with an eye to bringing the Demons to the Far North for a preseason camp leading into the 2019 campaign.
AFL Cairns has a close connection with the Demons as operations manager Craig Lees and development manager Aaron Davey were both previously at the club.
Melbourne’s assistant coach and strategy and education co-ordinator Craig Jennings recently attended a workshop in Cairns, with offi- cials from the club set to return in June during the club’s Round 13 bye.
Cairns hosted Richmond for a pre-season camp in 2016 but none of the 18 clubs have opted to use the Far North as a training destination recently, with several, including Melbourne, instead looking to the Sunshine Coast.
Melbourne have used the Sunshine Coast for the last four years and will inspect Cairns’ facilities, including Tobruk Memorial Pool and Cazalys Stadium, later this year with the potential of making the move.
“Travelling to Cairns to meet a legend of our club in Aaron Davey, and being able to share ideas about culture and learning environments was a phenomenal experience,” Jennings said of his recent visit.
“To be able to spend time with passionate and energetic people like Aaron Davey and the absolutely brilliant football community in Cairns, and hear stories of indigenous culture, is one of the best experiences I’ve had in football.
“I saw first-hand a real entrepreneurial spirit and an eagerness to invest in their coaching and learning in AFL Cairns. They are an incredibly hospitable and generous football community.”
Lees is keen to bring as many AFL clubs as possible to the Far North for preseason camps.
“We are exploring opportunities, not just with Melbourne, but hopefully every AFL club,” Lees said.
“AFL Cairns are going to do what they can to try and entice clubs to do their preseason up here.”
High-performance staff from Collingwood, St Kilda, Port Adelaide, Adelaide and Hawthorn have inspected Cairns’ facilities in the last few years but have opted not to run camps in the region.
Meanwhile, the under-17 Cairns Lions travelled for their Victorian Challenge yesterday.
They will visit the Melbourne Demons as well as taking on AFL Goldfields in Sunbury last night and Eastern Football League tomorrow.