Ahwang, Lancaster keen for rep footy

CAIRNS all-stars debutant Brooklyn Lancaster said this weekend presented a massive opportunity for AFL Cairns women’s players to watch some top-tier footy, but also participate in it too.

The Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs captain will be suiting up for the inaugural women’s all-stars game between Cairns and Indigenous-South Pacific teams.

“It’s a bit different because we’re playing our own teammates,” Lancaster said.

“It’s exciting … I know Ruby Tuesday will be strong for the other team, maybe there’ll be a bit of a fight – I’m looking forward to it.”

Lancaster said she was most excited to be playing with fellow Bulldog Brooke Knight and Kate Fowles of the Cairns Saints, who also made the team.

Saints midfield machine Tiarna Ahwang will be playing for the Indigenous-South Pacific team.

She said the match was a great opportunity to showcase the region’s Indigenous and Torres Strait talent.

“I’m just excited about getting amongst the players from the other clubs, and playing as one Indigenous mob versus the non-Indigenous,” Ahwang said.

“It’ll be fun being out there playing against our teammates as well.”

She said most of the players in the women’s competition in Cairns knew one another, making gelling relatively easy.

“I used to play for North Cairns a few years back, so it’ll be good to play with them,” Ahwang said.

The Indigenous-South Pacific squad will be coached by Tigers’ Marcus McGregorCassidy, while the Cairns AllStars will be led by Lions’ Brodie Deverell and Jason Wray.

The match will kick off on Friday night at Watsons Park, on the eve of the Cairns AFL blockbuster between St Kilda and Port Adelaide.

“It’s pretty awesome, we only get this one game a year,” Lancaster said. “It brings a lot of players to the game to watch and they can learn.

“Not many (players) actually watch the games, so it’ll be good for girls on our team to come down and get behind the AFL guys.”

The women all-stars game starts at 7.30pm.