Pair driven by mutual goal
NORTH CAIRNS SOUTH CAIRNS
“FITZY and Ronnie” – it sounds like a popular sitcom a family might sit down together to watch on a Tuesday evening.
While it is not a television program, well, not quite yet anyway, North Cairns Tigers coach Ronnie Burns is hoping his new ”student” Fitzroy Greenwool will be able to put on a show at Watsons Oval this season.
The Kowanyama flyer has had a displaced last couple of years chasing his AFL dreams, being on the Suns’ NEAFL list, before heading to Melbourne where he trained with VFL clubs Werribee and Footscray.
Just before the second COVID wave in Victoria hit over the past few weeks, Greenwool was set to move back down to Melbourne to have another crack.
A safer option of heading back to Cairns where he completed school and attended AFL Cape York House was selected, eventually ending up at North Cairns after speaking with a number of local clubs, including his old mob Saints.
While it is going to be difficult to stand out in a Tigers side that has struggled for half a decade, Greenwool decided on North because of Burns, a former AFL small forward who created his career the way “Fitzy” wants to play.
The pair think, together, they can work, train and eventually get the talented youngster back to the big smoke for another chance.
“I have had a chat to Fitzroy, I have the contacts in Melbourne and I want to get him back down there and have a crack,” Burns said.
“He has a lot of talent.
“If the opportunity arises for him in Melbourne, I hope he would go back down and have a try, but for now he will have a few games for us. We are excited to have him here.”
While Greenwool has mostly played for Saints and Cape York Eagles when based in Cairns, he noted during the Tigers’ Round 1 game he actually started his journey at the Tigers, before CYE started up as a club.
A NEAFL Rising Star nominee early last season, Greenwool is likely to turn out for the yellow and back for the first time at senior level against competitive heavyweights South Cairns.
“If you have been around a list in the AFL, you have something, Fitzroy is here and will don the black and yellow jumper and I think he will be worth four or five goals in the forward line,” Burns said.
“He is a great talent and we have a few senior guys to come into the side that was beaten by Saints as well, which will help.”
When playing at Saints, the smiling Greenwool claimed the 2017 Troy Clarke AFL Cairns Rising Star Award.
The North and South battle commences Round 2 of the 2020 season, with the remaining games to be played in the usual Saturday afternoon timeslot. The reserves and women’s games will also be played today at Watsons Oval, with the women’s game to be contested as a twilight event after the seniors from 5.10pm.