Jack’s well and truly back
FORMER Wayne Jackson Medallist Jack Philp is committed to helping the North Queensland rep side turn the tables on their last two losses.
The Cairns Saints midfielder did not feature for NQ last season due to a knee injury but was the team’s best player in 2016, awarded the Wayne Jackson Medal.
The Tasmanian has returned in fine form as Saints sit at the top of the ladder.
“The first few games were a bit rusty, not playing a game for over 12 months,” Philp said.
“I am starting to feel I am getting into a bit more match Round 6 Friday: Manunda vs South Cairns, 7.45pm, Cazalys Saturday: Port Douglas vs Cairns Saints, 2pm, Port Douglas Sporting Complex Centrals TB vs North Cairns, 3pm,Crathern Park Cairns City Lions Bye fitness and better in my body.
“The rep game on Friday night was good, it was good to have a run, the 20-minute quarters with no time on probably helped.”
The NQ representative team will be looking for revenge later this year after dropping the last two clashes against SQ at NEAFL club the Aspley Hornets’ Graham Road facility on July 14.
Philp is set to be one of the first selected in the NQ squad.
“Absolutely I would like to play again if I was selected, that would be nice,” Philp said.
“I would always put my hand up if selected.”
NQ will be made up of players from Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Mt Isa and Capricornia.
Saints travel to Port Douglas this weekend for their Round 6 AFL Cairns fixture, with both clubs unbeaten with four wins to start the season. PORT Douglas playing-assistant coach Wes Glass appears ready to step up and take up his own coaching job, given the opportunity.
The Cairns All Stars squad were raving about Glass’ influence in last week’s representative game.
Success has followed the key defender, playing in six straight premierships for Willinga in South Australia between 2004-2009, as well as the flags he has played in at Port since moving north.
Could a rival AFL Cairns club try pinch him if a job comes up later this year?
If not, he is well regarded at the Crocs as Brad Coopers’ right-hand man.
■ THE Daniel Lock saga looks set to come to an end in the coming days.
The South Cairns veteran was handed a nine-week suspension for punching a Cairns Saints opponent last season with the court proceedings from the incident expected to wrap up this week.
Lock has continued to play for the Cutters this season after the suspension concluded with the legal matter simmering away in the background.
■ ONE of the better days on the AFL Cairns calendar is this week with Port Douglas again hosting their traditional Pink in the Tropics match on Saturday.
The club and much of Port Douglas turns pink to support Breast Cancer awareness, which is a great cause.
The 2017 edition of the game was a flop as Cairns Saints failed to fire a shot but it is set to be a cracking contest this Saturday with both clubs in red-hot form, sitting at the top of the ladder.
■ MILTON Miskin was a surprise inclusion for the Indigenous and South Pacific All Stars on Friday evening.
Miskin had just played the one game of club football for Manunda Hawks this season but was straight into the representative side.