The weight of three previous premierships and some superlative late-season form will stack up against the competition’s model of consistency tomorrow afternoon for the right to automatically qualify for an AFL Cairns grand final.
Manunda carry the title of minor premiers, but no-one, not even their coach, can deny that Saints are the team to beat after characteristically ripping into gear for another September sojourn.
“We finished minor premiers, but they have to be favourites playing like they are and having won the last three titles,” Manunda coach Paul Griffiths said. “But that suits us. All we know is we finished on top and we want to win a premiership.”
Since that victory Saints have gathered momentum like a run-away freight train. Their regular season culminating in a 72-point romp over fellow flag contenders Port Douglas last week.
In contrast, Manunda scratched their way past South Cairns in what was a dead rubber.
“That was a real nuisance that game,” Griffiths said. “The boys are just happy to get past it and into finals.”
Their task against Saints has been made slightly less difficult with the season-ending injury to experienced Saint Mark Kennedy.
“That was sad news for him, because it was basically this time last year that the same thing happened,” Saints’ coaching director Max O’Halloran said. “He’s a great bloke to have around the club and it’s really a blow because he lives for these big games.”
Saints player-coach James Coatsworth was another casualty of last week’s tough win, but he is expected to line up.
Manunda will field a full-strength team, with the season’s leading goal-kicker Ryan Booth (79 goals) and fellow Busselton recruit Nathan Bradbury both looking for a premiership in their debut season.
“Those two have been two of many good assets for us this year,” Griffiths said. “Ryan has been great for us up front, but great with the club off the field too. But it won’t boil down to one player for us, it will be about a combined effort from one end of the park to the other.”
Courtesy of The Cairns Post.
Last Modified on 02/09/2011 17:28