Rogers rallies Cairns vs ISP
A LATE addition to the Cairns All Stars list proved to be the difference maker in the wings against the Indigenous – South Pacific team in a veteran dominated Cazalys Clash.
Cairns City Lions mid Darcy Morris wasn’t initially named to the All Stars, according to coach Jason Tom, but went into Saturday’s stoush with the fire his team needed on the flanks.
“He worked really hard and made good decisions with the footy,” Tom said.
“He was just really clean in the conditions with his hands … he had a really good attitude too, just really keen to get there and be involved.”
With the teams finalised only five days before kick off, neither side had long to prepare to face one another in a curtain raiser clash to open the AFL game between Port Adelaide and St Kilda.
Given the quick turnaround, Tom said he was pleased with how his team gelled through only one training session.
“The team did really well, the back half was really strong and organised and we had pretty damaging forwards,” the North Cairns coach said.
Cairns All Stars led all game to win 9.9 (63) to 7.4 (46) despite an aggressive effort from an ISP team who gained plenty of traction in the midfield, but couldn’t convert inside 50.
South’s Damien Dewis and Manunda’s Joel Seden were able to get some traction on the scoreboard for ISP, booting two goals each. Lions leaders Brodie Deverell and Sean Connelly, as well as Centrals’ Kamen Ogilvie and Cutter Darcy Morris were key through the midfield, generating a number of runs that had Cairns on the back foot.
Morris was voted best on ground for the ISP team.
Saints skipper Cade Wellington outmatched many of his opponents at half forward, using his downfield vision and accuracy to fuel Cairns All Star’s offence.
He tallied two goals in the game as well, alongside Lions reliable forward Tyron Rainbird and South Cairns’ Boston Oches who booted two majors apiece.
“Cade’s leadership is really good out there,” Tom said.
“Bringing that energy is really important when going up against the ISP team given how much the game means to them.
“Trying to match their energy around the contest – Cade was really important with that.
“You can see his leadership qualities are tried and true even with people he’s just met.”
On-ballers Boe Collins (Tigers), Beau McKeown (Cutters) and Kanja Kamara (Saints) also put together clean possessions in the centre for Cairns.
AFL Cairns’ regular season will return for round four on May 7, starting with a heavyweight bout between Cairns Saints and Crocs in Port Douglas. Manunda hosts Cairns City and CTB Bulldogs travel to South Cairns in other games.