AFL Cairns is pleased to announce the following representative coaches appointed for 2023:
Men’s All Stars
Head Coach – Sam Hughes
Sam joins the AFL Cairns competition following a successful stint as a Playing Assistant Coach at Leopold Football Club in the Geelong Football League from 2020-2022. At the same time, Sam was Head Coach of the First XVIII Football Team at St Joseph’s College Geelong from 2020-2022. He has also had coaching experience at the Geelong Football Club as part of the VFLW Program.
When asked about his coaching style, Sam stated that “as a coach, I like to foster an environment where players can grow and reach their full potential. The All-Stars team provides an opportunity to work with high calibre individuals both on and off the field. I am looking forward to harnessing the talent we currently have in our AFL Cairns competition and putting that on display in the All-Stars game.”
Assistant Coach – Cameron Campbell
Men’s ISP
Head Coach – Chris Baksh
Chris joins the AFL Cairns competition as the Head Coach of South Cairns after a successful stint at the helm of Nightcliff Tigers in the NTFL, reaching the second week of Finals after finishing 4th on the ladder.
Chris is a proud Gunaikurnai/Yorta Yorta man. Having recently moved across from Darwin, he stated that he is “really looking forward to discovering the Indigenous talent within the Cairns League, and I’m honoured to be given an opportunity to help showcase this to the wider community and beyond.”
Assistant Coaches – Chris Ransom & David Topani
Women’s All Stars
Head Coach – Marcus MacDonald-Camden
‘Big Cous’, as he is affectionately known, has led a QAFLW program and was part of the Brisbane Lions AFLQ Development Squad, as well as numerous State and Regional Talent programs. Marcus stated that his coaching style “is very much game-based learning, along with trying to make every session enjoyable – hopefully, the players walk away with something new from this experience.”
Women’s ISP
Head Coaches – Luana Healey & Jason Wray
Luana’s coaching journey began in 2016 with North Cairns Tigers U17s Youth Girls. After successful periods at the Tigers and Cairns City Lions, including a Youth Girls Premiership in 2020 and Grand Finalists in 2022, Launa returns to North Cairns in 2023 as the Head Coach of the Women’s side.
“I’m extremely excited to work with the players and coaching staff who will be involved in the Women’s ISP team given it is a game reflecting, showcasing and playing for our culture and heritage. My coaching approach is holistic in nature and acknowledges that relationships are key to any team success.”
Jason has been coaching since 2019 where he started in the U18 Youth Girls competition, winning back-to-back Premierships with the Cairns City Lions, the second Premiership coming as Assistant Coach to Luana Healey – so there is a winning formula about this year’s Women’s ISP coaching team!
Jason was also a Gold Coast Suns Academy coach at end of 2021. After being the Assistant Coach for the City Lions Women’s team in 2022 (Grand Finalists), Jason steps up to Head Coach the side in season 2023.
Assistant Coach – Tobias Fatnowna
The Genesis Health & Fitness All-Stars games are scheduled for Friday 26 May at Cazalys Stadium.
