Territorian titans add teeth to Lions
Will there be any stopping the Cairns City Lions this season?
We’re only four rounds into the season, however the reigning premiers have dispatched each of their three foes in that time in convincing fashion, and only seem to be just getting started.
Their latest conquest came in the form of a 116-point trouncing of the Manunda Hawks to spoil their longawaited homecoming at Cazalys.
While the win can be attributed to a comprehensive team domination, the addition of NTFL stars Jackson Calder and Kyle Emery have clearly taken the team to a new level.
“I think in the last two years in Darwin, they’ve been the two leading goal kickers,” Lions co-captain Sean Connelly said.
“You add Eddie Sansbury, Ty (Rainbird) and Tom Lindenmayer – they become more dangerous because there’s a lot more sets of eyes on the two men upfront.”
This season will be Calder’s first in the gold and maroon, while Emery played with Cairns City during its rebuilding years two years ago.
Calder – the NTFL reigning Chaney medallist – has already belted 12 majors in two games in 2022.
This included seven against the Hawks, along with five for Emery.
A major litmus test lies on the horizon
for the Lions this weekend, as they go toe-to-toe with a Port Douglas team that’s hot on their heels.
“We’re very happy with how the season started,” Connelly said.
“Last season we started pretty well and it quickly turned bad for us and we went 0-7. We don’t want to get complacent … Port will be a big test for us and we’re keen for the contest.”