CAIRNS SIMPLY BEST

Q How do you see the game up here in Cairns and the North Queensland region? A Football in our country regions is very important to us. We are not South East Queensland-centric. We are committed to growing the game in all regions. Cairns is lucky with AFL Cairns as they are able to provide full-time resources to run the league and their clubs. They do a wonderful job. AFL Cairns, no doubt, is our best regional competition outside of South East Queensland and has been for many years. It continues to grow and prosper. The growth of female footy is huge – five teams in the senior women and the youth girls. The Cairns region is producing a lot of talent. Q How is the relationship between AFL Cairns and AFL Queensland? From what I have heard it has had some difficulties over the journey but the two bodies have been working positively together over the last few years. A My view is that our organisation wants to work collaboratively to ensure we grow the game. I have a great relationship with Gary Young (right) and Reg Lillywhite. The guys in Cairns appreciate that we are not always going to see eye-to-eye but we have respectful relationships and you work your way through those. We want to get consistency in terms of rules and regulations across our whole state and AFL Cairns has adopted those. I can’t talk to what happened before I started but I think we have a great relationship and we are on the same page with what is important. We have too many competitors to be fighting among ourselves. AFL Cairns has invested wisely for the sustainability and the future of the game.