Belief Tigers are on way up

NORTH Cairns Tigers coach Iaon Drake believes his club are over their internal issues and have turned the corner.

The Tigers, who are yet to win a game in AFL Cairns this year, showed promise during the middle part of the season but the wheels fell off the wagon in the past three weeks.

In fairness to the depleted Tigers, they were matched against the top two clubs in the competition but could only manage four goals over Rounds 17 and 18, while conceding 64 against Port Douglas and South Cairns.

The Tigers were competitive in three quarters last Saturday against Cairns Saints.

Drake is hopeful of another consistent effort against Manunda, who beat Cairns City Lions last start, at Watsons Oval this afternoon.

“We had a bit of internal stuff in the club that threw a spanner in the works that week,” Drake said.

“I think it lingered a bit into the Port Douglas game. I am not going to go into it all but it was not good at the time.

“We have got through it now and that was a turning point for us.

“Hopefully in the next two games we can show that improvement we showed against Cairns Saints. We struggled in the first quarter but besides that we were in the game.”

Drake is already planning for next season.

“We need to build towards next year and be positive,” Drake said.

“We have got two home games to finish the season and we need to get some momentum.

“Who knows what can happen, we might jag two wins to finish the season.

Elsewhere in Round 20, Port Douglas Crocs play their last game of the season before finals as they host Cairns City Lions at home while Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs will look to close the gap on second spot on the ladder away to South Cairns Cutters.

Meanwhile, Ben Koch will notch up his 350th senior game as a field umpire in AFL Cairns today.

He has also been a long time server on the AFL Cairns Umpires Association Committee and has been an integral part of mentoring up-andcoming umpires.