THE STANDOUTS
As the AFL marks Sir Doug Nicholls Round, we have taken a look at some of the key Indigenous athletes who have plied their footy trade in the Far North.
Behind the well-known names like Bulldogs and Suns champions Jarrod Harbrow and the star Port Adelaide Cockatoo-Motlap twins Litonya and Laquoiya is a cavalcade of legends.
We highlight some of those below, but if there’s anyone you think deserves a spot on this list send an email to sport@cairnspost.com.au.
Ralph James Sr was one of the greatest footballers in Tigers’ history during his tenure in the 1960s-70s. James Sr had a knack of just being able to find the ball.
Ralph James Jr followed in his father’s footsteps, playing for the Tigers during the 1980s, winning six premiership in nine years.
Peter Mudu was one of the key parts of the dominant Tigers side during the 1980s. Mudu helped the Tigers claim six premierships in nine years including the three-peat in 84, 85 and 86.
Sammy Kris played for the Tigers in the 2000s and was rated as one of the club’s best footballers during an era where the Tigers chased to end the premiership drought.
Terry Mueller also played with the Tigers in the 2000s and was similar to Kris, but helped build the off-field success for the Tigers as well.
Dillon Rogers still currently plays for the Tigers but has been one of the best players during the time the club has struggled on-field.
Jahmahl Jenkins-Clive still currently plays for the Tigers and was one of the best players during the time the club struggled on-field.
Alfie Twist was a magnificent footballer who unfortunately passed away at a young age but was one of the Tigers’ great young footballers.
The Fatnowna family are arguably one of the biggest family names in Cairns when it comes to football. Johnny played for the Tigers in the 1970s, with Syd and Tobias also playing for the Tigers.
Jess plays for the Lions and is a dominant force for the women’s league, also winning the Cairns Young Woman of the Year in 2022. Her sister, Lisa, has also suited up for Cairns City Lions.
The Clarke brothers, Ivan and Paul, were the inaugural coaches and co-founders of the Cairns Saints in 1993.
Ivan’s son Riley debuted for the Saints in 2017, following in his father’s footsteps.
The Frank Family includes Jerry and Gabai Frank playing for the City Cobras, and then son of Jerry, Ezekiel Frank, now playing with the Hawks. All tall, slick, skilful and capable of owning the game.
Lyndon Oats, from Trinity Beach, was a tough, tenacious footballer capable of finding the footy all over the ground.
Willy Allick played for North Cairns, Manunda and South Cairns. Silky skills and a huge leap for a five-foot player, always found the ball all over the ground and was rewarded with the Crathern Medal.
Leonard Warren played for South Cairns and Manunda, and was a hard running, skilful footballer. He captained Manunda’s premiership team in 2006.
The English Brothers, Peter and Bill, had skill and speed and also the longevity to play 300 games for the Cutters throughout the 2000s to late 2010s. Peter won the 2005 Reg Dean Medal.
Kevin Rundle was a gun for Souths and Hawks. With silky
skills and a hard defender, legend has that he played a grand final with a broken jaw. Rundle also won back-to-back Matthew Walsh Leading Goal Kicker awards in 2002 and 2003.
Jason Roe played for Manunda Hawks and Centrals Trinity Beach. He had a solid mark and long kick.
Mugzy Mooka went to Victoria as a 16 year old to chase his dreams in 2015 when the Manunda Hawks were out for the year, and is now back in Cairns and with the Hawks again. He is showing great positioning and marking ability as he did back as a junior.
The Harbrows – Marc and Jarrod are both very skilful and smart footballers. Marc stayed local while Jarrod went on to bigger things. Marc has shared his knowledge of the game with playing in grand finals for Hawks and coaching both Lions and Hawks at the senior level.
Gary Dhurrkay was an exFremantle and North Melbourne player who featured in opening games in 2005, but was tragically killed in a car crash late in the 2005 season.
Gary was a freakish footballer who could be dominant on ground and in the air.
Timothy Karpenty, more commonly known as TK, was originally from SA and another recruited from Wanderers FC NTFL. TK was an explosive wingman midfielder who would consistently go forward and kick clutch goals at important times. No bigger goal than the goal after the siren in the 2005 grand final being five points down, with umpires taking some time to clear spectators. He went back and slotted the goal to give Port Douglas the premiership win by a point.
Aaron Davey has turned Cairns City Lions around. Although at the very back end of his football he has shown the competition how much of an elite kick he is.
Coaching wise he has turned a nearly defunct club into the current powerhouse of the league. Davey’s brother Alwyn has made a number of appearances for the Lions as well.
Mark West City Cobras gun also played for Wanderers and Darwin Buffaloes in the NTFL, and also Western Bulldogs in the AFL. Tough as nails inside midfielder.
Jerry Frank City Cobras, Darwin Buffaloes and Palmerston Magpies midfielder forward who had freaky skills.
Robert and Rodney Cockatoo were part of City United’s back-to-back premierships in 1982-83 and signed with North Melbourne in the VFL straight out of Cairns.
Kevy Rundle helped change the fortunes of a club by switching to Manunda from South Cairns. They were the hardest of opponents as could play in any position.
The Cockatoo-Motlap twins, Litonya and Laquoiya, were both drafted by Port Adelaide for the club’s inaugural AFLW season in 2022.
Both debuted, with Litonya playing four games for the Power. The twins starred for the Cairns City Lions before making the Gold Coast Suns AFLW Academy.