Cairns continues to uphold its reputation as the Australian rules stronghold of regional Queensland after 12 Far North players made the Queensland Country Kookaburras Under-17 side at the weekend. The players earned selection after starring in the Cairns team that beat Central Queensland Country, which featured footballers from Townsville, Mackay and Rockhampton, 13.4 (82) to 6.11 (47) on Sunday.
The Kookaburras take on Brisbane side Sandgate in Townsville on Saturday in a match that will double as a state trial. Cairns AFL development manager Eddie Skiba said players had plenty of incentive to produce eye-catching performances.
"This is probably the last hit-out the boys will have before the initial selection of the Under-18 Queensland Scorpions squad," he said. "There’s a fair bit at stake. It’s good timing for the boys because it’s in season for them. A lot of the stuff we do is out of season, but the boys have a good fitness base this time of year and you tend to get a better idea of what they’re capable of."
Skiba said the Kookaburras needed to be at their best to have any hope of toppling Sandgate.
"They’re a really good side. They’ve got about four or five state representatives in there from previous years, so it’ll be a really good hit-out," he said.
Read more at http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2011/09/21/183201_local-sport-news.html
Courtesy of The Cairns Post.
Last Modified on 21/09/2011 09:15