How are NQ preparing for their rep clash with SQ?
RIVALS AT CLUB LEVEL TURN TEAMMATES IN FIGHT FOR REGIONAL PRIDE, WRITES JORDAN GERRANS
LEAVE your club colours at home – this is about representing North Queensland.
That is the message to the cream-of-the-crop footballers in AFL Cairns this week as they go from belting the suitcase out of each other to running out side-by-side in the space of seven days.
The Far North contingent of the NQ squad trained lightly last week and had two more training runs this week at Cazalys Stadium and Watsons Oval before linking up with the rest of their squad tomorrow.
After hosting the past two representative clashes in Cairns, the northerners go on the road against South Queensland to attempt to claim their first triumph in three years.
“The game being a little bit later than what it usually is in the year has given me a little bit more time to look at players and the new guys more of a chance to get up to speed of how footy is played up here,” said second-year NQ coach Brad Cooper.
“They know more about their opposition at a local level after playing 14 rounds, who now become their teammates.
“We come together as a club this week, we pack the Port, Saints and Trinity Beach colours away and become NQ and we need to have that mindset.
“It is different to last year, we have a bit more buy-in from the playing group.
“It will be a fairly exciting side.
“We’re pretty happy with the squad, we believe we’ve picked the best players that were available and we’re looking forward to the game on Saturday.”
Former NEAFL forward Ezekiel Frank, who now plays with Manunda, is looking forward to the chance to play against the best the southern Queensland leagues have to offer.
“It is good competition for the best from Cairns to go down and take on the best from the south,” Frank said.
“Hopefully it is a good trip and we can go down and have a win.”
Former Melbourne Demons star Aaron Davey, who kicked 174 goals in his 178 games at AFL level and now coaches Cairns City Lions, is a drawcard for the NQ squad, according to Cooper.
“To have someone of his calibre in our side is big. It is not every day you get to play with a guy that has done that much in footy,” Cooper said.
“He is about promoting our league as well and promoting NQ games.”
Davey is looking forward to the opportunity of representing his adopted home of Cairns.
“There is always a special feeling around rep footy and something that players really value,” Davey said.
“It can be a highlight of your career.
“I am on the back end of my career and it is a bit of a privilege to go down, play and represent North Queensland.”