Frank’s legacy lives on in footy
THE impact that Far North Queensland and Northern Territory champion footballer Jerry Frank had on a young Aaron Davey can not be understated.
Frank, a Cairns City Cobras junior, made his name in the Top End, playing over 200 games in the NTFL and finishing his career as a two-time premiership player with Palmerston Magpies.
He passed away in 2019 after a battle with cancer.
Ever since then, Cairns City Lions, who started as City Cobras when Frank was playing, and Manunda Hawks have played in his honour.
Frank’s son, Ezekiel, has been a key player for the Hawks since 2017, while fellow Palmerston champion and former AFL player Aaron Davey enlisted Frank as an assistant coach when he first took the reins at Cairns City in 2018.
“It’s a special game for both clubs, but also for myself personally, with the support and guidance Jerry gave me throughout my footy journey back in Darwin,” Davey said.
“Coming up to Darwin as a young kid, Jerry was playing in the seniors and became like a big brother to me and all the family and everyone at the Palmerston Magpies. Him and
his wife were fantastic for myself, my brothers and my family and, most importantly, the broader footy community in Darwin and also here in Cairns.
“It’s one that I always look forward to playing in because it’s more than just a footy game and holds a lot of significance for me personally.”
In 2019, Hawks forward Duncan Seden received the Jerry Frank Medal for best on ground in their Round 15 clash against the Lions.
The two clubs created the medal to honour Frank after he passed away days before the match.
Manunda coach Peter Leonard said closing down the Lions run from half-back was key to a Hawks victory.
“They do it the best in the competition,” he said.
“We’ll be focusing on our roll-up-forward defence and making sure we shut down their main attacking weapons.”