Shining lights in Bulldogs’ pre-season

AFTER interrupted starts to the last two AFL Cairns seasons, Centrals Trinity Beach are buoyed by the early inclusion of former co-captain Max McLachlan through the pre-season.

The skilful midfielder featured in half of the Bulldogs’ pre-season win over North Cairns last Sunday afternoon.

Trinity Beach won by 35 points over last season’s wooden spooners and Centrals football manager Sam Blease (right) says McLachlan was instrumental.

“Max played about a half and was really good,” Blease said.

McLachlan, who was previously with Port Adelaide in the SANFL, had played in 10 and 13 games respectively over the last couple of years, with the Bulldogs keen to see as much as possible of him in 2020.

Kade Wilson, from the Hume Football League, and former Saints on-baller Mark Horne were the standouts from the Bulldogs’ new crew against North at Watsons Oval, Blease said.

“Horne has been great around leadership, facilitating training and running – he is an intelligent guy and he has been good for us,” Blease said.

“He will be great for us.

“Horne was a cut above against North Cairns. He was best on ground by far.

“He has the class that we will need.”

Horne finished equal fourth in the 2019 Crathern Medal on 13 votes.

Centrals will pick up a handful of quality recruits from Noosa for the upcoming season.

Centurion goal-kicker Tom Eltringham has been training at Crathern Park but did not play against the Tigers.