MEDIA RELEASE
AFL CAIRNS 2021 FIXTURE RELEASE
The AFL Cairns Season will commence Saturday 10th of April 2021. Clubs for the third year will play 16 matches over 19 rounds in a seeded draw in the Seniors and Reserves.
The Women’s competition expanding to a 16-match season also.
The season will open with Manunda Hawks playing at Cazalys Stadium against Centrals Trinity Beach. North Cairns vs Cairns City Lions at Watsons Oval and reigning Premiers Port Douglas will travel to Fretwell Park to play South Cairns.
The Cairns Saints will play under lights for the first time at Griffiths Park on Anzac Round in a twilight match 4.30pm, Saturday 24th April against Centrals Trinity Beach. The reigning Premiers Cairns Saints Women’s team will play in a curtain closer at 7.15pm.
The annual Anzac Day clash will be played on Sunday 25th April, the customary match between North Cairns v South Cairns will be held at Watsons Oval in 2021 and backs onto a full morning of junior football followed by a women’s curtain closer match.
South Cairns will celebrate a significant occasion in 2021 as they launch the new lights at Fretwell Park in round 4 against Cairns Saints at 6.00pm.
The Grand Final replay between Port Douglas and Cairns Saints will not be played until round 5 and will play centre stage at Pink in the Tropics. The day used as a fundraiser by the Club to donate funds to Breast Cancer patients in the region. The League also celebrates women in football on this weekend to coincide with Mother’s Day.
The Genesis Health & Fitness Allstars Match will return in 2021 at Cazalys Stadium Friday 14th May. A massive rivalry has built between Indigenous/South Pacific and Allstars over the past six years with most games being decided by a goal or two. This match acts as a warmup to squad selection for the North Queensland v South Queensland representative clash on 12/13th June 2020 being played at Cazalys Stadium. This will be the seventh time the Intrastate battle has been played. On the same weekend Cairns will host the Toyota AFL Premiership Match St Kilda v Adelaide Crows.
In round 7, the spotlight turns to the Women’s fixture as they play a triple header at AFL Cape York House, Buchan Street in Stand Up Against Domestic Violence Round. Centrals TB v South Cairns, Manunda Hawks v Cairns Saints and North Cairns v Cairns City Lions.
Indigenous Round will be celebrated on Saturday the 5th of June which affiliates Nationally with AFL matches played. Clubs will celebrate our rich Indigenous Culture and community. The annual Dreamtime by the Sea match played at Holloways Beach will feature long standing rivals Cairns City Lions v North Cairns. The Women’s match will open the day at 11.00am, Reserves 12.30pm and Seniors 2.45pm.
19th of June, round 9 Port Douglas will raise awareness for Sockit2MND in a match against Centrals Trinity Beach. The Club will once again lead the way with their own unique Big Freeze to raise money for the charity.
In round 13, North Cairns play Cairns Saints in a twilight Friday night match at Watsons Oval on the Cairns Show Public Holiday. The Women will play the curtain raiser to open the day at 1.30pm followed by Reserve grade at 3.00pm.
The BCS Pride Round, will be held at the back end of the season on Saturday 21st of August in round 18. Both the Senior and Women’s teams will promote inclusion and support in our local LGBTQIA community. A triple header Women’s fixture at Cazalys Stadium the highlight with Manunda Hawks playing South Cairns, Cairns City Lions v North Cairns and Centrals TB v Cairns Saints.
Round 19 the last home and away fixture of the season will be played Saturday the 28th of August. Cairns Saints v South Cairns, Port Douglas v Manunda Hawks and North Cairns v Centrals Trinity Beach giving Cairns City Lions a bye.
The Manunda Hawks have selected to host two matches under lights in 2021 at Cazalys Stadium. Round 6 is a Friday night fixture against South Cairns and in Round 12 they opted for a twilight timeslot of 5.00pm against Cairns City Lions.
AFL Cairns will have three (3) general byes for all Clubs.
The 2021 season concludes with a top-four final series at Cazalys Stadium. With a triple header Grand Final for Women’s, Reserves and Seniors to be played for a second year in the twilight timeslot at 5.00pm scheduled for Saturday, 18th September.
Gary Young, AFL Cairns President said, “AFL Cairns looks forward to a season that resembles one that is closer to the ‘old normal’. Of course, there will be some Covid-safe requirements of our clubs, officials, players, and spectators to follow but we look forward to what we expect to be one of the most competitive seasons in recent times.
Our clubs have attracted new coaches and players and intend to give their up-and-coming juniors plenty of game time too. This season has the potential to be exciting and truly competitive. Every team will need to bring their best game to the paddock week in and week out. One loss during the season could mean missing out on a double chance in finals or, worse still, missing out on finals altogether.”
CLICK HERE TO VIEW SENIOR FIXTURE
CLICK HERE TO VIEW WOMEN’S FIXTURE
ENDS.
For more information:
Jane Clarke
