Another Mawson steps up for Crocs
AFL CAIRNS ONE is a key position extrovert and the other is a slight midfielder who keeps to himself.
They have travelled contrasting paths to AFL Cairns but former Port Douglas defender Brad Mawson is beaming to see his teenage son Josh follow in his footsteps to the Crocs, with the same number on his back.
The former Geelong-listed Brad was with the club 15 years ago while Josh has been one of the competition’s boom recruits in 2019.
Brad played just the one season with the Crocs, following a stint with North Cairns in 1998, before returning six years later to Port Douglas, where he played in the infamous grand final of 2004.
The Dunkeld-based Brad regularly returns to the Far North to watch games and thinks his son has him covered when comparing the duo.
“Josh, he is a far better player than I was at the same age. And, at 18 I was training and playing with the likes of Gary Ablett Sr and Mick Mansfield,” Brad said.
“I am incredibly proud of Josh and all of his achievements. He’s a naturally gifted player but he works hard at it.
“It was definitely a proud moment for me to see him wearing his Crocs jumper with my No. 17 on the back, running out on to the same ground as I did all those years ago.”
The teenager received a Rising Star nomination in just his first outing with the Crocs and is in the box seat to be selected in the annual Cairns Post Team of the Year for the competition. In 16 games this season, the hard-running onballer has booted 18 goals and been named in the Crocs’ best on eight different occasions, going on to represent North Queensland in June.
Premiership coach Brad Cooper played with Brad and now is coaching Mawson Jr and says they are similar, while also being the opposite.
“Brad was an extrovert with a short fuse, he played key back, who would run off and was an elite runner and would back himself,” Cooper said.
“Josh is an introvert, calm, still learning and improving week to week.
“He has a better skill set than his Dad with the ball and can play anywhere. They are both great trainers, five days a week and team first players, but the Dad liked the accolades a lot more (laughs).”
Josh will be in the Crocs side tomorrow as they look to book a place in the grand final against rivals South Cairns.
sport@cairnspost.com.au facebook.com/TheCairnsPost www.cairnspost.com.au twitter.com/TheCairnsPost
Both games on Saturday at Cazalys Stadium Semi-final 2 at 2.30pm Port Douglas v South Cairns Semi-final 1 at 5.15pm Cairns City Lions v Manunda Hawks