CUTTERS BEST OF THE REST
WITH Cairns Saints and Port Douglas well ahead of the competition through much of the 2018 AFL Cairns season, the question needed to be answered – who is the best of the rest?
South Cairns, Centrals Trinity Beach and Manunda have all, at different stages, looked like the likely challenger to the big two through 11 rounds of the campaign.
But, in the past fortnight, the Cutters from Fretwell Park have made it known they are on the third line of betting for the 2018 flag.
John Tootell’s men could have sprung the upset of the season last Saturday at Griffiths Park over Saints and consolidated their strong form with an impressive win over Centrals at home on Saturday afternoon.
In the wet and windy conditions, Cutters were clever with their ball use. The Bulldogs had their share of positive passages of play but their ball use, especially coming out of defence, let them down as too many turnovers led to easy Cutters goals.
An optimistic Tootell believes his side is not too far behind Saints and Port after 13 rounds.
“We are probably sitting in that third position two games clear now,” he said.
“Port and Saints have been the pacesetters this year but I feel we have competed well against them.
“We were probably really unlucky last week but they stood up when it counted.
“We think we are thereabouts.”
Medium-sized Cutters forward Josh Barnett moved to fourth in the goalkicking leaderboard with a bag of seven, following up from his five majors against Saints just seven days prior.
The glove-wearing Barnett is becoming a match-up problem for opposing defences with his ability to play on a tall or small defender and still impact the contest.
Cutters received plenty of dash from runners Steven Stow and David Welch.
For the undermanned Bulldogs, they were never out of the contest and will be confident once they get a glut of their experienced players back, they will be in the mix.
The return of former cocaptain Max McLachlan has done wonders for their on-ball division, while former Cairns City Lion Josh Brinn put in a workmanlike performance in their loss to the Cutters.
“We did not use our skills as best as we should have,” Bulldogs coach Mick Seymour said.
“We probably did not give our forwards the best opportunities they would like as well.
“I am glad we ran it right out to the end. We are giving a few different guys a chance to play senior footy.”
PORT AND SAINTS HAVE BEEN THE PACESETTERS THIS YEAR BUT I FEEL WE HAVE COMPETED WELL AGAINST THEM. WE THINK WE ARE THEREABOUTS. SOUTH COACH JOHN TOOTELL