CROCS BITE BACK IN AFL CAIRNS

Port Douglas rekindle old fire

AFTER weeks of questions around the potential downfall of the Port Douglas dynasty – they were all answered swiftly and with authority on Saturday afternoon.

The three-time defending premiers had recently dropped two games in a row, for the first time in four years, and South Cairns, as well as even City Lions and Manunda, could see it might be their chance to pounce on the wounded champs.

An eight goal to one first half against the Cutters on Saturday afternoon, which all but secured the 2019 minor premiership, sent a clear message to the competition – it’s going to be an uphill battle to dethrone the Crocs at Cazalys Stadium in a few weeks.

Port coach Brad Cooper likes to talk about connection when assessing his team and says the Crocs had a premium of it.

“We had a period of the middle two quarters when we got good connection, obviously we have some personnel back and they are starting to get some connection together,” Cooper said. “As they say, you do not lose – you learn – and I think we learnt a lot in those two losses.

“There was a lot of pleasing aspects with our connection from the middle of the ground and how we moved the ball as well.”

The Crocs were the better side early on but could not turn their control into goals.

But, as early as the second minute of quarter number two, the old Port Douglas were back.

They put on four quick goals inside seven minutes to take a stranglehold on the contest. In horse racing terms, Crocs centre half forward Ben Johnson is lightly raced this preparation but he looks primed for a huge spring carnival.

The former Geelong-listed man mountain impressed with this workrate up the ground to provide an option and commands two defenders worrying about him at most times.

After copping an earful for four quarters the last time these two clubs met, small forward Wayne Pavitt outscored the visitors himself in the first half – banging on three goals.

Experienced pair Peter Bury and Dylan Wearmouth (above) have hardly been seen in dark blue and white this season but the premiership winning pair are going to be crucial for Port’s chances come September. The duo bring all their experience and class from the last three flags that may have been missing earlier this campaign with a glut of new faces at the Crocs.

The Cutters best periods were in the opening term but from then on, it was a nonevent as Port did as they pleased.

South Cairns added a handful of late goals to add respectability to the scoreline but the hosts had the cue in the rack with a few experienced Crocs on ice.

“We had one bad quarter, they pretty much dominated the game, we were pretty ordinary I thought,” Cutters coach John Tootell.