Victoria Stone-Meadows

The Port Douglas Crocs AFL team had a shock start to last weekend’s match against the Lions but ran away with the lead after quarter time.

It was the young lads of the Crocs that help lead the team to victory with Ash Davison, Daniel Davidson, and Josh Mawson all bringing their A-game to Holloways Beach.

The Lions were too quick for the Crocs to start with Cairns City taking a three-goal lead in the first seven minutes of play.

Crocs’ football operations manager, Jim Buckley, said the Port Douglas team were not as focused as they should have been in the opening term.

“We started slowly and they started rather quickly,” he said. 

“This is new territory for us and it definitely gave us a fright. Their tackling and pace was terrific while we were a little lackadaisical.

“The opposition were very good and they took it right up to us and tackled and tackled us but we managed to bring the game back.”

By the time the clock ticked over the 15-minute mark of the first quarter, the Crocs had come back with five goals and the scores were almost level.

From there it was business as usual for the Crocs who dominated play and walked away with a 90-point victory.

Wes Glass took on the role of senior coach in the absence of Brad Cooper, who is currently overseas and Kye Chapple continues to hold the position of lead goal kicker with 28 for the season so far. 

The Crocs will take on the Manunda Hawks this weekend for AFL Cairns’ Indigenous round at home in Port Douglas from 2.00pm.

FINAL SCORE
Port Douglas: 20.24-144
Cairns City Lions: 8.6-54

PORT DOUGLAS
Goal Kickers: A. Gross 5, K. Chapple 4, W. Pavitt 3, B. Meredith 2, T. Higgins 2, N. Santarossa, D. Moore, J. Mawson, G. Jacks
Best Players: A. Davidson, D. Davidson, J. Mawson, C. Adam, L. Petch, B. Meredith

CAIRNS CITY
Goal Kickers: T. Rainbird 4, D. Ferreira 2, R. Davey, B. Deverell
Best Players: B. Deverell, B. Lovell, T. Rainbird, T. Keygan, D. Ferreira, F. Braico

The Port Douglas Reserves also had a win over the Lions with Scott Cooper and James Wollermann each kicking four goals leaving the final scores 27 to 98.