After a tough start, the Port Douglas Junior Crocs will wrap up a successful season with two teams headed into finals.

Junior Crocs President, Craig Mitchell, said in this extraordinary year the club worked hard to keep the season running while adhering to the newly created COVID protocols, managing to field U8's, U10's, U12's, U14's, U15's Youth Girls and U16's team over a shortened season.

Under 12's

“The under 12's had a great year only losing two games and finishing second on the ladder, gaining them a double chance in the finals,” he said.

“The year started with the 11 and 12-year-old’s separated into two teams with numbers at 32 players, unfortunately, a number of players did not return after the COVID break and luckily the club was able to merge the two age groups. Coaches Lucas Agrums and Brad Sims have worked wonders with the talented squad.”

They now play the Cairns Saints for a place in the Grand Final on 11 October. 
 

Under 14’s

A lack of players in the under 14’s following the COVID break saw Port merge with the Pyramid Power team from Gordonvale who were in a similar situation, allowing them to field a fairly strong team.

“Unfortunately a lack of cohesion due to the two groups unable to train together delayed their progress and although they improved throughout the year they fell short of a finals berth finishing fifth on the ladder. Coaches Scott Radley (Crocs) and Matt Hession (Power) worked well together and things look promising for a return to a stand-alone U14's in 2021,” said Mr Mitchell.

Under 15 Youth Girls

The under 15 Youth Girls played round one with the minimum numbers and it looked like it was going to be a weekly battle to field a side.

“In what can only be described as a feel-good story of the year, the team generated numbers with a group of girls who came to play that lived between Cow Bay and Mission Beach.”

Coach Craig Mitchell said he watched the girls improve weekly and matched it with stronger more experienced opponents in the back half of the year, eventually finishing in fourth place.

They now play the Cairns Saints for a place in the Preliminary Final on 11 October.

Under 16's

Mr Michell said the under 16's team under Coach John Revell managed to build great numbers in the offseason and things looked promising to possibly aim for finals.

“Some season-ending injuries early in the season to some of the more experienced and talented players resulted in the team not winning a game for the year. To the players' credit, they battled on and stuck together for the entire season and received high praise from the top of the table Saints in the last round for the team's endeavour and efforts towards each contest.”

Under 8’s and 10’s

The under 8's under the guidance of Adam Meek, and the under 10's with Coaches Blair Ziesler and Darren Taranto in the Non Competitive grades have one more round before playing off in their Grand Finals on a Gala day at Cazaly’s on 18 of October.