AFL CAIRNS: Crocs to roll out Victorian gun Zach Gubbins
Published Friday 29 July 2016
PORT Douglas will roll out another quality recruit tomorrow against Manunda Hawks with the inclusion of Victorian midfielder Zach Gubbins.
Gubbins joined the club from Lorne before the June 30 clearance deadline and is set to add more spice to an already potent midfielder mix at the Croc Pit. He is a former Barwon Heads teammate of Port Douglas ball magnet Jesse Mawson, finishing third in the Bellarine Football League best-and-fairest award last year.
“It’s nice to be able to attract another quality player to our club,” Crocs coach Brad Cooper said.
“He hasn’t played footy for a few weeks so we’ll just ease him into it and he’ll predominantly play forward and midfield.”
A collarbone injury has plagued Gubbins this year and he managed just two-games for Lorne before deciding on the move north.
The Crocs welcome back Josh Lea for the Hawks clash at Cazalys Stadium to further strengthen their on ball options. Lea, who has been travelling overseas, was stiff not to win the medal for best-on-ground in the 2014 grand final when Port Douglas claimed the premiership with a 16-point win over Cairns Saints.
Jordan Chapman is the third change to the side that crushed South Cairns last week, with key tall Hayden Graham (arm) and Tom Goodall (collarbone) the notable outs.
Running defender Alex Bendle remains sidelined due to a tendon injury to his wrist but is expected to return in the coming weeks, leaving Cooper plenty of options once he has a full arsenal to pick from heading into the finals. The Crocs are two-games clear on top of the AFL Cairns ladder.
“We have a number of key players that we’ll look to get back into the side over the next period,” Cooper said.
“It puts us in a really good position because we’ll be able to rest a few guys if they have a little niggle, but it also puts the group on notice.
"Blokes will have to get out on the track and prove they can get through solid training sessions before they are picked; there are no guarantees this year.”
AFL CAIRNS - ROUND 16:
Saturday 30 July - 3pm
Port Douglas Crocs v Manunda Hawks
Cazalys Stadium, Cairns
SELECTED TEAMS:
