FORMER CROC RETURNS
Versatile tall makes an impact after recovering from ankle surgery
RETURNING key-position player Ethan McCullough will be as valuable as a new recruit for Port Douglas in season 2020, with the premiership player set to return from a long injury lay-off.
The local junior missed much of last season due to an ankle operation but impressed on Friday night in the Croc’s pre-season defeat to South Cairns.
The versatile tall can play at either end of the ground, or pinch hit in the ruck, and will be again called on this Friday night as Port travel to face Manunda in their second preseason hitout.
“Ethan did not play much at all last year, so we are really keen to get him back in,” premiership coach Brad Cooper said.
“He has always been a very good player and was our best player on Friday night, clearly.
“Kallam Oates got hurt and Ethan had to ruck one out for much of the night and did a good job.”
McCullough has previously been selected in north Queensland squads and has featured in the annual Cairns All Stars representative contest as well. Talented cricketer and former West Adelaide junior Tanner Coulthard also was busy in his first outing in FNQ.
Still just a teenager, the Crocs are hopeful Coulthard, who played under-18 footy in the SANFL last year, will be able to have a similar impact to what NQ representative Josh Mawson did last year in their premiership.
“We got out of it what we wanted to; we rewarded a few of our younger fellas who have had good pre-seasons, and some of them showed a bit,” Cooper said of the pre-season clash with the Cutters.
“My young bloke Scott kicked a couple of goals and went well in the first half and Tanner Coulthard is a very good ball user.
“Tanner has the attributes to come in and do well. He trains nicely and he got a little bit of the ball on Friday night, used it well, and no doubt he will fit in well.”
Experienced Croc Jesse Mawson also played his first game since July last year on Friday evening.
In other pre-season games, Cairns Saints will have their first contest under new playing-coach Wes Glass this Saturday against City Lions.