Wellington’s campaign brilliantly making up for lost time
AFTER stints in South Australia and Victoria, Cade Wellington may have found a home at Cairns Saints.
The damaging forward is the only remaining link from Saints’ Victorian recruiting contingent from last season with Keenan George and Lachlan Poulter returning home over the summer.
Wellington only managed 11 games last season before succumbing to a knee injury while George and Poulter were contributors all season.
He has started 2018 in outstanding form, grabbing an AFL Cairns Coaches vote in Round 1 before he followed that up with a best afield performance against South Cairns on Saturday afternoon, kicking three key goals.
“After last year with all the injuries we had as a club, this year the way we have responded so far has been fantastic,” Wellington said.
Playing-coach Tim Lamprill believes Wellington will be even more active around the goals this season with Jack Philp and Joel Newman set to feature more consistently.
“Cade got the footy in more dangerous spots against South Cairns than what he may have in the past,” Lamprill said.
“Last year he was forced right up the ground because we lacked midfielders. He basically plays as a midfielder being a half forward but his work rate and smarts around the forward 50 makes him a real handful.”
Wellington previously played with the Port Adelaide Magpies in the SANFL and the Grovedale Tigers Football Club in the Geelong Football League.