On Sunday (26th June), AFL Cairns U17’s will take on a travelling AFL Goldfields team at Cazalys Stadium, 3pm. The AFL Cairns team will be the merger of the Cairns Lions and Cape York Crusaders Representative Programs. Players eligible for selection are those who qualify for AFL Cairns Juniors Colts Competition (Born in 1998, 1999 & 2000).
This game will be the first leg of AFL Goldfields annual Far North Queensland Trip. AFL Goldfields is a combination of Ballarat Football & Netball League, Maryborough Castlemaine District Football & Netball District Football & Netball League and Riddell District Football & Netball League. AFL Goldfields will also take part in a game on Wednesday, 29th June at Tony Ireland Stadium (Townsville), where they will play against a combined team of AFL Townsville and Mackay.
This is the third FNQ trip AFL Goldfields have attended. AFL Cairns is yet to taste victory on home soil after being defeated in 2014 and 2015 by very strong travelling sides.
2014 Result: AFL Cairns 8.6-54 def. by AFL Goldfields 15.12-102.
2015 Result: AFL Cairns 7.7-49 def. by AFL Goldfields 19.11-125
AFL Cairns and AFL Goldfields have developed a relationship over the past 6 years, where annually in April, AFL Cairns travel to Melbourne for the Victorian Challenge where we compete against Ballarat FL and Riddell District FL. In addition to these matches, AFL Cairns Player attended the Western Bulldogs and Essendon Bombers training facilities as well as attended two (2) AFL matches – Collingwood vs. Richmond at the MCG as well as Western Bulldogs vs. St. Kilda at Etihad Stadium. The Victorian Challenge is an opportunity to immerse AFL Cairns best youth talent into traditional football heartland and expose them to elite facilities, clubs, oppositions and experience.
Early this year (in April), AFL Cairns were successful against both regions recording resounding wins against Ballarat and Riddell District respectively.
AFL Cairns Victoria Challenge Results:
Ballarat FL 2.8-20 def. by Bendigo Bank Cairns Lions 27.17-179
Riddell District FL 3.7-25 def. by Bendigo Bank Cairns Lions 16.13-109
The teams final training session was held on Wednesday, 22nd June at AFL Cape York House (Buchan St). The initial 43-man squad was cut to the final teams of:
Cairns City Lions:
Charlie Harris
Oliver Koch
Glenn Liddy
Tom Lindenmayer
Cape York Eagles:
Myron Ahwang
Timakoi Bowie
Damien Burke
Lewis Fauid
Joey Kura
Tui Lowah
Laurie Nona
Denzel Yunkaporta
Manunda Hawks:
Bradwell Dick
Centrals TB:
Max Culpitt
Cairns Saints:
Jacob Heron
Kanjia Kamara
Riley Maher
Lochlan McDonald
South Cairns:
Alan Broad
Nathan Caddy
Tim Lavrick
Jonathan Peeters
Lachlan Smith
Pyramid Power:
Dobah Forna
Of the 24 Players, 13 Players attended the Victorian Challenge earlier this year. Due to School Holidays, some players were unable to be reselected due to their unavailability, also injury has sidelined several players who were in the mix to be reselected.
The Coaching Staff will be:
- Cameron Campbell (Head Coach)
- Joshua Hanlon (Assistant Coach)
- Gavin Ham (Assistant Coach)
- Danny Floyd (Assistant Coach/Runner)
- Debbie Podolzcak (Trainer)
Congratulations to all Players & Officials who will take part in Sunday’s game.
AFL Cairns – It’s a great game!
