Hawks in draw as AFL pin faith

AFL Cairns have shown how much confidence they have in the Manunda Hawks’ ability to compete in the upcoming season after including the embattled club in the new fixture.

The league released the first two rounds of the 2020 AFL Cairns Seniors season on Wednesday and, despite the club having yet to determine whether they would have the player numbers and financial capacity to participate this season, the Hawks are scheduled to face Souths at Fretwell Park in Round 1 on Saturday, July 11.

AFL Cairns managing director Gary Young said it would be “topsy-turvy” season compared to what clubs had become accustomed to, but there were positive signs that all seven clubs would be taking the field next month.

“If they (Hawks) can get their playing group together, they’ll get out there and give it a crack, and that’s all we’re asking of clubs,” he said.

“Get out there, get a team on the paddock, enjoy the footy as best we can, perhaps de-emphasise winning premierships and all that, and start building toward 2021.”

Young, who dropped by the Hawks’ training session on Tuesday evening, said the club was “getting pretty close to the mark”.

Hawks president Garry Hartrick said the club would make a decision on its 2020 campaign by next week, following discussions with playdogs ers and its committee. He said the club was hopeful they would be able to take part.

“They (AFL Cairns) wanted to get a fixture up and running and they’ve created a fixture that includes Manunda Hawks, but if they have to change, that will happen down the road,” he said.

“There is a fair amount of momentum being created and assurances that ‘all will be fine’. We, as a club, have to divorce ourselves from that and make a considered decision based on the circumstances we face.”

The new fixture will see each team play each other twice, finishing with a threeweek finals campaign between the top four teams. Reserves and Women’s fixtures have not yet been released.

Young said there were question marks whether all clubs would be able to get a reserve side on the field this season, but the league would be willing to work through the issue.

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