The Tigers confirmed their top spot on the AFL Cairns Womens ladder on Saturday evening, defeating Manunda by 37-points at Watsons Oval.

The yellow and black did the same in 2018, before they were beaten by the Hawks on grand final day.

Tigers captain Staci Trindle-Price and her side now look towards Saints in the first week of the finals this Saturday.

“To finish minor premiers, it is always good for momentum going into the finals,” the skipper said.

“Sometimes too it can be a little bit of a voodoo, we did the same last year as minor premiers, before losing the grand final by one point.

Tigers’ Staci Trindle-Price clears the ball in the AFL Cairns Women’s match between the North Cairns Tigers and the Cairns Saints, held at Watsons Oval, Manunda. PICTURE: BRENDAN RADKE.

“We are not counting our chickens just yet, because we know we have to play well and win this Saturday, before the grand final.

“We finished off the game well against Manunda, and that is how we need to be playing.”

Gold Coast Suns AFLW hopeful Tiarna Ahwang turned out for her third game for Tigers this season but Trindle-Price said she was unlikely to feature in the finals.

Youngster Alma Enosa, the hard-running Leah Scroggie and Lani Moore were influential in the victory for North.

Round Two of the 2019 NAB AFLW Under-18 Championships at Metricon Stadium, Carrara. Match between Queensland and Vic Country (white top). Queensland’s Tiarna Ahwang. Picture: Jerad Williams

South Cairns also prepared for finals with a big win in the last game of the home and away season.

AFL Cairns Womens

Round 17

South Cairns Cutters 4.10-34 d Centrals Trinity Bulldogs 1.3-9

North Cairns Tigers 5.11-41 d Manunda Hawks 0.4-4

Cairns City Lions and Cairns Saints — Bye

Finals

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Semi Final 1

North Cairns Tigers vs Cairns Saints

11:00 AM

Semi Final 2

Manunda Hawks vs South Cairns Cutters

12:30 PM

Both games at Cazalys Stadium

Jordan Gerrans, jordan.gerrans@news.com.au, The Cairns Post 2/9/2019