All eyes on trial of big double-header
AFL Cairns clubs are keen to see how today’s double-header at Watsons Oval fares before backing the concept longterm.
The competition will host a super Saturday at North Cairns’ home ground, with two senior games played: North Cairns against Port Douglas after the Manunda Hawks face Centrals Trinity Beach.
To host the double-header, Manunda and North have given up a home game, with the Tigers to hold two games today, with the Hawks to conduct another double-header in the final round of the campaign.
Hawks coach Marc Harbrow does not mind where his club plays but said it did make it difficult to put together a reserves team for a morning start.
“There are naturally challenges with our reserves team as lots of our guys work on a Saturday morning so the 11am start can be a tricky one,” Harbrow said.
“It is a good idea to bring everyone together for footy though.”
Trinity Beach coach Mick Seymour remembers playing double-headers at Cazalys Stadium in his playing days and believes the concept should be pursued into the future.
“It is a good mix-up, you need to try these things and see if they are going to work,” Seymour said.
“We used to play Friday night double-headers at Cazalys, which was good fun.
“It will be good to have the netball involved as well, that is exciting, because that is how they do it in the southern states with the football and netball together.
“It is a pretty import clash for us against Hawks, too.”
A pilot social netball competition will also be played, with Port Douglas, Cairns Saints, Centrals Trinity Beach, North Cairns and Queensland Womens Legal Service all partaking in the round-robin event, finishing off with a grand final.
“The netball component will not only bring both sports together at one venue but raise funds for White Ribbon with a donation being made from each team,” Craig Lees, AFL Cairns Operations Manager, said. “If the event is a success AFL Cairns will look at running the combined super sports day on a regular basis.”
The first of the seniors games is a mini-final with the winner going a long way to securing fourth position on the ladder.
“It really is an in-season grand final for us,” Harbrow said. “Every game is a mustwin but this one against Bulldogs is huge for us.
“We just need to make September then anything can happen for us.”
Ezekiel Frank is in doubt to feature for the Hawks today with a foot complaint.