The competition expands from four clubs to five this season with four extra rounds, up from 16 in 2017 to 20 this campaign.

Dupuy, who will share her time between the Marlin Coast Marlins in the Queensland State Netball League and Saints this winter, says signs are promising at Griffiths Park.

“We have a real mixture of people, girls who have found Saints organically from interstate, who have played footy before,” Dupuy said.

“We have got a few girls from netball, like me, and a few from touch, hockey and a mix of different sports.

“It has been really exciting to see the transfer of skills from other sports over to footy in the few months we have been training together.

“That ability to take the game on and really have a crack is something you cannot teach and we have seen a few girls who have that, which is great.”

AFL Cairns development manager Aaron Davey, who will oversee the women’s competition in 2018, believes there is plenty of positivity and growth in the game in the Far North.

“It is really exciting to see Cairns Saints join the competition — it is a real boost,” Davey said. “We have seen our numbers grow in Youth Girls again this season as well.”

In the grand final last year, Manunda Hawks missed their chance to repeat as premiers, losing to a hard-running South Cairns Cutters.

CAIRNS SAINTS SQUAD FOR 2018

1 Mimi Hoger

2 Kate Fowles

3 Hailey Williams

4 Freya Parks

5 Rickie Fielding

6 Jakki Orszackzci

7 Sarah Horsley

8 Clare Tilley

9 Polly Stewart

10 Molly McNamara

11 Akayla Peterson

12 Danika Friedli

13 Meredith Cramer

14 Dayle Bates

15 Tahlia Smith

16 Emily Allen

17 Kris Harmer

18 Leah O’Brien

19 Jacqueline Dupuy

20 Stefanie Martin

21 Josie Hare

22 Jeda Nash

AFL Cairns Womens 2018

Round 1 — Tomorrow 11.30am

Manunda Hawks vs.

North Cairns at Cazalys

South Cairns vs. Cairns Saints

at Fretwell Park

Centrals Trinity Beach — Bye

Article Courtesy of Jordan Gerrans The Cairns Post