Gutted Lock departs
Cutters player-coach moving south after grand final agony
SHATTERED South Cairns player-coach Daniel Lock (pictured) has finally spoken publicly of his side’s grand final “failure” and announced a move south to continue the exodus of AFL Cairns senior coaches this season.
Lock muttered a few words on the dais after his team’s loss to Saints two weekends ago and did not hang around, gutted at another grand final loss for the club.
The proud Cutter, who has spent most of his life at Fretwell Park, will move to Batemans Bay next season and play at the Seahawks with his brother-in-law, with plans to refresh and eventually return to coaching.
Souths’ nine-point point meant they have ve tasted defeat in five ve deciders since their ir last flag in 2003.
“I’ve got footy depression eas still; it was a really gutting loss ss and I’m just shatteredtub for the club because how many ny grand finals can you u lose,” he said.
“It’s become a bit of a joke and I really wanted to stamp my existence there with a flag, but now I feel like there is a big hole there and really that this season was a failure.”
Saints skipped away from
loss Souths early to kick the first five goals and the Cutters could never recover.
“The first 10 minutes ut cost us; we were st still in the sheds looking in forward to a final th that had already started,”st Lock said.
“And they just kept doingdo enough small thingsth to stay in front.”fr
Lock will be joined by departing Cairns City Lions coach John Tootell, who has taken a job with Tasmanian State League outfit Western Storm.
Keen on staying in Cairns, Tootell said it was an offer he could not refuse.
It continues the Cairns flavour in the Apple Isle with former Manunda coach Richard Griffiths enjoying a stint with Devonport (before a move to VFL club Port Melbourne) and more recently Norths stalwart Kane Richter heading south to play and coach for Hobart City.
“It’ll be a big step to take and it was short notice but I’m excited,” North Queensland coach Tootell said. “I wasn’t going anywhere but this was a great opportunity to test myself again and I know the Lions are well placed to keep developing next season.”
Centrals Trinity Beach will replace Heath Mitchell, who announced his return to South Australia after the Bulldogs’ semi-final loss.
And Manunda, due to return from a AFL Cairns suspension to the competition next season, have hit a snag with coach Brad Sinclair unable to resume the role.
Complications with a hip replacement will see him return to hospital and rule him out of the gig.
Premiers Saints have resigned Zac Kelly while North Cairns mentor Dave Arnfield will return.
Port Douglas have advertised all their coaching positions in line with their constitution, but it is understood incumbent Brad Cooper is keen to go around again.