Footy heats up in Douglas
PRESEASON FOOTY
Sports fans will soon get their long-awaited footy fix as the season starts to warm up in the Douglas Shire.
The Crocs have been training hard in the preseason.
New coach former Adelaide Crows player Jared Petrenko said he and the team are looking forward the year ahead.
“I’m excited about the season ahead, being in Port Douglas has been awesome, everyone I’ve met along the way has been really supportive,” he said.
“It has been a challenge but I’m enjoying it.”
The Crocs are keen test themselves against Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs in a preseason match at Cazaly’s on March 25.
“It’s just around the corner which is exciting,” Petrenko said.
“I’ve heard they weren’t too bad last year and they might’ve pipped us once or twice.”
The squad will welcome a few new faces from the SANFL with Sam Fairclough and Brett Kennedy set to join the ranks.
Petrenko said training is amping up as more travel to join their ranks.
He said the team are pumped for their opening game against North Cairns Tigers on Good Friday.
Switching codes, the Mossman-Port Douglas Sharks are busy prepping for their first game of the season at the end of the month.
The Sharks will take on the Kangaroos at the Mossman Showground on March 26.
Last season the Sharks remained dominant over the Kangaroos both at home and away.
Player-coach Davin Crampton said the whole club have been putting in the effort at training.
“We train as a group with the ressies three times a week, two sessions on the track and one strength and conditioning session,” he said.
“The boys are working had and looking good for round one, some were training in their own time.”
Crampton said there’s no secret about their newest recruit, former NRL star Ben Barba.
“Round one is going to be interesting that’s for sure,” Davin Crampton said.