Saints get 2018 season off to great start

JORDAN GERRANS nals in Round 1 against Centrals Trinity Beach on Thursday night.

The Tasmanian playercoach banged through Saints’ first goal of the season after one minute at Crathern Park, followed by two majors from Central Highlands Football League recruit Thomas Eltringham and one each from Jack Philp and Brayden Bux to effectively kill off the Bulldogs inside the first term.

Saints cruised to an impressive first-up victory 11.9 (75) – 3.3 (21) in the rare Thursday-evening fixture. In sloppy conditions, Saints’ hardworking defence, led by Ryan Fielding and Christian Philpot, kept the Bulldogs, who for long periods of last season were the secondbest side in the competition, to just three goals for the night.

The returning Philp, Lachy Everett and Kanja Kamara slotted perfectly into Saints’ midfield, with Lamprill pleased with his playing group’s mindset to attack the new season.

“We have not really spoken about missing out on finals last year, it is more about an attitude shift,” Lamprill said.

“And then working hard on our structures and then individually where guys see themselves playing in our team.

“Guys identified that early and we have put them in those positions. This season the players are owning it as much as I am, which is really pleasing.”

Trinity Beach, who had a sizeable player turnover over the preseason, were well off the pace on their home deck first up but kicked two final-term goals to add respectability to the scoreboard.

Across town at Cazalys Stadium, speedy recruits Tyler Gorogo and Jesse Ritchie helped Manunda run Cairns City Lions towards their second defeat of the new season.

Gorogo, who has crossed from North Cairns, and Ritchie, back after a spell at Saints, shared in five goals as Manunda, 19.17 (131) – 4.7 (31), showed their strong finish to 2017 was no fluke.