Lions to run out at MCG

CAIRNS City Lions talents Hakeem Flowers and Khyle Ugle will have a “mind-blowing” experience this afternoon at the MCG, according to their coach.

The pair (pictured) have been selected to be involved in the Rio Tinto Cup, nominated by their club coach Aaron Davey after another former Lion, Peter Yagmoor, who now works with AFL Queensland, was searching for Far North footballers for the club.

The Rio Tinto Cup will be played as the curtain-raiser to the Dreamtime at the ’G game today at the MCG between Richmond and Essendon.

Flowers, 21, and Ugle, 18, are both Noongar men from Western Australia who relocated north to be coached by Davey over the summer.

The former Melbourne Demon has coached in the Cup before and said the duo would take plenty of life lessons as well as football knowledge from the experience.

“It is a great opportunity for both of them,” Davey said.

“A few months ago these boys would not have thought they would have been running around on the MCG.

“It is a special experience. It will really be mind-blowing.

“While they are there for footy, they learn a lot about work-life balance and other experiences.”

Manunda Hawks junior Courtenay Dempsey will coach one of the two teams today.