Saints, Swans pay tribute to Poulter

CAIRNS Saints playing-coach Tim Lamprill says his club will have Lachie Poulter with them for the rest of the season as they chase the 2018 AFL Cairns premiership.

Lamprill, a key forward partner of Poulter’s last season, was quick to turn the focus to remembering their former teammate following Saturday afternoon’s victory over Manunda at Griffiths Park.

The Tasmanian said it had been an incredibly tough week for much of the Saints playing group, who were close mates of Poulter. He sadly passed away just seven days ago after playing for his club Dunnstown in country Victoria. Poulter died last Saturday after the Central Highlands Football League reserves clash with Learmonth when he collapsed and could not be revived.

“I think early on in the game against Manunda we were pretty scratchy and that is understandable because it has been a very big week for some of the boys,” Lamprill said.

“There were a lot of boys who were close mates with Lachie and they are unfortunate circumstances that have happened.

“For our boys to put their hands up to play this week after what they have gone through, it is an unbelievable effort. What happened to Lachie does not really sink in but then you go to play footy, it is (in) the back of your mind the whole time.

“When footy gets hard, it is not that hard in the entire scheme of things.

“I am sure Lachie will be with us for the rest of the year as we go forward.”

On the park, Saints were expected to take care of the Hawks comfortably and they did, playing some of their better footy in the second and fourth terms to record a 19.9 (123) – 5.8 (38) win.

The big plus for the red, white and black was the return of spearhead Tom Eltringham as he booted nine goals in his first game since late June.

After falling heavily on his shoulder on a number of occasions against South Cairns in his last game, Eltringham was a welcome addition to the Saints side, which allowed others to push up the ground.

“It spreads the defence a lot more when we have him back and structures us up well,” Lamprill said.

Meanwhile, the Hawks are facing a tough ask to play finals again in 2018 but coach Marc Harbrow is not giving up hope just yet.

Ezekiel Frank returned from a foot concern and put in an outstanding performance in the loss and Harbrow thinks his side could spring an upset in the final few weeks of the season to keep their spot in the top four.

“We still have hopes of September,” Harbrow said.