Lane looms large after late SOS
PEGGY Lane only scraped into AFL Cairns Women’s finals qualification but the experienced Manunda Hawk looms as a grand final day trump card.
After 14 years of playing footy, Lane was battling a sore body at the back end of 2017 and stepped away, instead focusing her attention on CrossFit rather than the Sherrin.
With her old club, the Hawks, facing their own injury crisis this season, with co-captains Jennifer Robinson, Rose Jorquera as well as Asta Naden, Allira Grixti and Carey Eccles all missing games, Lane answered an SOS to return to the brown and gold.
AFL Cairns Women’s rules require players to feature in three games to qualify for finals, which the utility did, just, before being named in the club’s best and kicking a goal in its finals win over South Cairns to reach today’s grand final.
“CrossFit not only helped me build my strength, but it really helped with my injuries that I was getting from footy, building muscles in my legs,” Lane said. “It increased my flexibility and has helped my body come along this season.
“When the club president called me and asked me to come help the club out, I was happy to help
“It has been good to be back around the club.”
Hawks coach Kareena White says Lane will be crucial in today’s decider against flag favourites North Cairns.
“We can really play Peggy anywhere – she is smart and such a big target for us,” White said.
“She had been doing CrossFit earlier this year and when we got a heap of injuries to our experienced players, we called on her and she was straight back in. Peggy battled with injuries the last two years and the CrossFit has made her much stronger.”
North Cairns’ captain Sodyla Kris says her side’s preparation has been perfect.
“We are more excited than nervous,” Kris said.
“The way we have trained this week, it was the best we have trained all season.
“Hawks are a tactical and structured team.”