State breeds stars AFLQ boss proud of nursery’s pathways
THE best footballers in Queensland at the moment are real Queenslanders.
Dayne Beams should win the Merrett-Murray Medal as Brisbane’s best and fairest and it’s highly likely that two other Queenslanders, Dayne Zorko and Harris Andrews, will round out the top three for the first time.
Twice before there have been three Queenslanders in Brisbane’s top five – 2001, when Michael Voss tied for first with Simon Black and Jason Akermanis finished fourth and Marcus Ashcroft fifth, and 2002 when Voss was second, Ashcroft third and Mal Michael fifth.
Jarrod Harbrow is on track to win his first Suns club champion award which would mark the first time locally produced players have taken out the top gong at both Queensland clubs.
Lachie Weller will storm home in the Suns best and fairest after a slow start, while Alex Sexton and Jack Bowes are in superb late-season form.
While the two AFL clubs are still at the wrong end of the ladder, AFLQ chief executive Dean Warren said the impact they are having on the development of young talent across the state is profound.
Earlier this month, Will Ashcroft, son of triple premiership Lion Marcus, was named an under-15s All Australian. And Queensland’s under-12 schoolboys team finished second in a national carnival last week, beating powerhouses South Australia and Western Australia.
“That is unheard of,’’ Warren said. “It just goes to show that our pathway programs are working and we need to celebrate that.
“With two AFL clubs in the state there is more exposure and because of the academies there is also more opportunities.
“No matter where you live in Queensland now, if you are a good player you will get identified and put into a program.
“We are developing AFLready talent and that is something I am really proud of.’’
editorial@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost
THE plight of Pyramid Power remains a curious situation for the wider AFL Cairns competition.
Many clubs want to see the Gordonvale-based club come into the seniors competition next year to make it eight teams but it seems unlikely they will get the approval from headquarters.
The Power are as talented as they are undisciplined.
I watched the club on Saturday at Crathern Park and some of their passages of play would see them beat one or two of the senior teams in the competition.
But, scenes such as those that happened after the siren with players manhandling water carriers from the opposition is unacceptable and will make it tough for AFL Cairns to promote them to the seniors anytime soon.
There are plenty of hardworking volunteers at the Power that put in countless hours behind the scenes for them to have a footy team and the players need to show a bit more respect on game day.
■AFL Cairns and its two big goal kickers are catching eye of a few NEAFL clubs down south.
Two NEAFL clubs sounded out footy figures in the Far North about Tom Eltringham and Kye Chapple recently.
The Port Douglas skipper stepped up over the summer and had a run in the NTFL, which is stacked with NEAFL talent.
Saints forward Eltringham would need to get his shoulder fixed before a tilt at the semiprofessional NEAFL competition.
■ WITH Centrals advertising for a new coach in 2019, they may look to promote from within.
Mick Seymour will step down after two years in the role with a new top dog to take over next season. Bulldogs midfielder Jackson Williams was awarded the Youth Coach of Year on Monday evening and could follow his famous South Australian family into coaching.