Whole new league
AUSSIE rules have found a promising code-switcher with former rugby league player Tina Welch a revelation in Cairns’ North Queensland Women’s AFL Championships triumph.
The Far North squad had it all their way against their rivals in Townsville on Saturday afternoon, rarely being troubled as they lifted the trophy for the fourth straight year.
North Cairns’ Hadassah Nicholson was deadly in front of goals in all three games, kicking 13 goals, and was awarded overall player of the carnival while Welch received Cairns’ MVP award.
Former Melbourne Demon Aaron Davey coached the AFL Cairns representative squad and says Welch, who plays at Centrals Trinity Beach locally, impressed with her tackling and intensity.
“Tina got the opportunity to play with a few good players in this team and really showed what she could do,” Davey said. “She has come from a rugby background and she was putting in five or six efforts at a time.”
Manunda Hawk Melissa Kelly also was singled out for praise.
Davey brought the group together three weeks before they played to better integrate players from different clubs, which he felt was beneficial on game day with much of the squad familiar with each other.
“The girls battle it out all season for their clubs and now they get the opportunity to come together and represent the region,” the Cairns City Lions’ playing-coach said.
“Hopefully the girls can go back to their clubs now and take what they have learnt from playing at a representative level. The big winner is women's footy, we had four good teams from across north Queensland playing.”