New lights, new recruits and a pre-season win over North Cairns last Friday night are paving the way for a positive Port Douglas Crocs campaign for 2013.

The Crocs beat historic arch-rivals North Cairns by five points in a pre-season clash in Cairns on Friday night, a result in which coach, Brad Cooper, said he was pleased.

Cooper and the club have spent countless hours in the off-season recruiting players from the dominant Ovens and Murray League in Victoria, the Peel League in WA, SE Queensland and South Australia.

“Everyone showed glimpses of form,” Cooper said of Friday night’s win.  “But it was more about getting to some condition and match fitness, and getting everyone to know each other.”

Cooper said moves were also currently underway to also recruit players from the North Territory Football League, which hosts its grand final this Saturday at TIO Stadium.

But the real pre-season test for the Crocs will come this Saturday in the annual Cairns AFL pre-season cup, with the Crocs playing at 1pm against Manunda Hawks and 2.40pm versus South Cairns.

Cooper said that although the $1000 prize money would be a boost for the club, it was mostly an opportunity to develop some form ahead of their Round 1 CAFL clash under the new lights at the Croc Pit on Easter Thursday, March 28, against Centrals Trinity Beach.

“The real recruit of the season has been the lights, it’s really brought us up to the same standards as other clubs,” Cooper said.

“We can now train for two hours a session and going forward, the lights are a real bonus for the whole club from juniors upwards.”

The Crocs also host their annual 200 Club luncheon this Sunday at Ramada Resort. For tickets, phone president Andy Smith on 0408 985 372 or Keith Lawrence on 4099 4833.