It might have taken them 20 rounds to clear their throats but South Cairns finally had the chance to belt out their team song on Saturday.
After enduring a winter of heavy defeats, the cutters won their first game of the AFL Cairns season in their last match of the year by beating Centrals Trinity Beach 20.14-134 to 20.10-130 at Fretwell Park.
As well as restoring some lost pride, the win doubled as a fitting send off for plater Cameron Campbell.
Campbell will leave for Canberra later this year for work opportunities, having played all his junior and senior football for the Cutters. Playing in the forward line yesterday, Campbell made his last outing for the Cutters a memorable one, finishing with seven goals.
Cutters coach Robbie Douglas said there was plenty of incentive for his team to perform.
“We turned it into a send off game and Cameron responded as well and led by example like he always does,” he said. “I coached him when he was a junior. “For someone who has been around the club for 15-16 years, it was a fitting way for him to leave.”
The Cutters trailed by as much as five goals in the third quarter in the third quarter but Douglas said his team was determined not to let the opportunity slip.
“We had nothing to lose,” he said. “We were playing a top-four side that are going to play finals and we decided to have a real crack. Everyone stood up, it was great from my personal view but also for the club and the players.”
While the Cutters had something to celebrate on Saturday, the Bulldogs were left with a bit to ponder. Saturday’s loss was their fourth in a row and life does not get any easier with a road trip to Port Douglas ahead of them this week.
In Saturday’s other games, reigning premiers Cairns Saints ended North Cairns faint finals hopes with a thumping 22.16 (148) to 7.5 (47) victory at Griffiths Park.
Last Modified on 27/10/2010 12:44