Season rethink pays off for Saints
AFL AFTER arriving at Griffiths Park during a rare season without a finals appearance, second-year Cairns Saints ruckman Zebedee Paulger believes a culture shift has pointed them towards a return to September action.
The hard-running big man led the Saints’ ruck division for much of 2017 and has shared the role with South Australian Adam Davey this season, allowing the pair to rest forward, at times.
After missing the finals last year for the first time in 16 years, the former Brisbanebased Paulger says a heart-toheart chat between the playing group and coaching staff have spurred them towards their undefeated start to the current campaign.
“Our culture this year has changed,” Paulger said.
“We had a bit of a chat at the end of last year regarding our culture and where we finished, out of the finals last year.
“We changed a few things up and that has been the big shift for us in 2018.
“We have really been working for each other and as a team.”
The undefeated Saints host the sixth-placed North Cairns Tigers this Saturday afternoon at Griffiths Park. The match starts at 3pm. 2018 AFL Cairns Seniors Saturday South Cairns vs. Centrals TB 3:00 PM Fretwell Park Cairns Saints vs. North Cairns 3:00 PM Griffiths Park Cairns City Lions vs. Port Douglas, 3:00 PM Holloways Beach Sporting Complex Manunda Bye