AFL Cairns clubs hunt for coach, manager
IF you are looking for a job in AFL Cairns, there are a couple of interesting opportunities that have popped up over the last week.
Centrals Trinity Beach is looking for a football manager, while North Cairns is seeking a new senior coach for 2019.
Iaon Drake was a favourite of this column to start this season in the Tigers’ top job, but when he pulled the pin due to work commitments his Tasmanian mate Tait Giffard took over as a player-coach.
Giffard has had a tough 2018, succumbing to a shoulder reconstruction, forcing him to drop from player-coach to just coach.
An improved 2018 season was expected from the Tigers, but after the coaching change and a number of the club’s boom off-season recruits leaving mid-season, it has been a bleak one.
Could the brass at Watsons Oval lure back former North Cairns captain and coach Kane Richter? We will see. ■ WHILE Saints did not take the four points on Saturday, they will stack the highlight reel this week.
Key defender Jesse Dixon and big ruckman Zebedee Paulger both pulled down huge pack marks that any high-flyer would be proud of, in their loss to Port Douglas.
■ MANUNDA Hawk Alex Davies has quickly gone from a promising kid who plays a bit of footy and hoops to a potential first-round AFL draft pick.
Last week the talented utility was selected in the AFL under-16 All Australian team — putting him in the top 23 for his age group across Australia.
If he continues his stunning rise, it would not be a surprise to see him alongside Jack Bowes, who was an All Australian at under-15 level before being a first-round pick on the Gold Coast with the Suns.
The attribute that stands out most about Davies when he is wearing brown and gold for Manunda is that he plays with maturity and poise beyond his years.
Davies was also the only Queenslander in the All-Australian side.