Youngsters, reserves shine for Crocs
THERE is healthy competition for spots at AFL Cairns ladder-leaders Port Douglas with the business end of the season just around the corner.
With as many as seven of their best 22 unavailable on Saturday, the Crocs promoted a number of teenagers and reserves players in their comfortable 22.19 (151) — 6.4 (40) victory over North Cairns.
After spending much of the season in the reserves, 2016 premiership player Oscar Dodge was the main beneficiary as he put in a near best-onground performance.
Youngster Tom Harvey made his senior debut while fellow teenagers Brayden Wall and Daniel Davidson stepped into the senior side and did not look out of place.
“A lot of these reserves guys are pushing and wanting to get in the senior side and we have had some injuries so they get an opportunity,” Crocs coach Brad Cooper said.
“I thought Oscar Dodge was the second-best player on the ground today.
“He is tough, he runs straight and uses the ball well.
“As a side, we had a bit of a lull from the big game last week but, in saying that, we had over 40 scoring shots.”
The Tigers took it up to Port for much of the first half but dropped away in the second.
Crocs skipper Kye Chapple edged closer to triple figures for goals this season as a bag of five put him on 82 goals, seven ahead of sidelined Saint Tom Eltringham.
Cooper refused to comment on recent reporting surrounding his club and ex-Melbourne-based Bandido bikie gang national sergeant-atarms Lee Undy. RESERVES Manunda Hawks 0.0 1.4-10 4.529 4.6-30 Centrals Trinity Beach 3.6-24 5.9-39 9.10-64 14.15-99 MANUNDA HAWKS Goal Kickers: R. McDonnell 2, M. Khalu, M. Hawash CENTRALS TRINITY BEACH Goal Kickers: T. Burdon 5, J. Kreeck 3, J. Jackson 2, L. Verrall, S. Pye, D. Ryan, T. Fatnowna Pyramid Power 4.4-28 6.10-46 8.13-61 10.17-77 Cairns Saints 2.0-12 4.0-24 8.0-488.3-51 PYRAMID POWER Goal Kickers: D. Mooka 6, J. Toikalkin 3, Z. Woola CAIRNS SAINTS Goal Kickers: M. Cooper 3, J. Roy 2, S. Bennett, C. Gandy, J. Dixon North Cairns 0.1-1 1.1-7 3.1-19 3.1-19 Port Douglas 7.2-44 15.3-93 17.7-109 22.9-141 NORTH CAIRNS Goal Kickers: C. Smith, J. McCormack PORT DOUGLAS Goal Kickers: O. Dodge 5, C. Loughnan 4, A. Macleod 4, J. Donnelly-Hart 2, J. Mawson, G. Payne, K. Taylor, N. Evans South Cairns 8.5-53 18.9-117 26.15-171 33.22-220 Cairns City Lions 0.1-1 0.1-1 0.1-1 0.1-1