A PRE-SEASON stint with Devonport in the Tasmanian State League will be nothing more than that for newly recruited South Cairns Cutter Luke Powell.
The representative ruckman's move from Manunda, where he captained last year, to South Cairns has been the talking point of a busy AFL Cairns off-season.
But after linking with former Manunda coach Paul Griffiths, who will coach Devonport this season, there was talk he may remain in the Apple Isle and leave the Cutters in the lurch.
Powell laid those worries to rest yesterday, confirming he would be back in Cairns next week and ready for the Cutters' first game in round two against Centrals Trinity.
"I was appreciative of Griffo asking if I wanted a run," he said.
"But I'm certainly coming back up. I've signed, Lance (club president Lance Dixon) has been good to me and I can't wait to prove myself again in a new club."
Powell played cricket for Mulgrave this season, who share a home ground with Souths and are coached by Garry Wilson, the Cutters' reserve-grade coach.
"Yeah there are connections there and that opened it up," Powell said.
Aware the first meeting between Hawks and Cutters this season will be emotional, Powell said he had no regrets about the move.
"Definitely, they were unhappy when I left, but hopefully they appreciate what I'm doing at Souths. I'm assistant coach of their under-18s this season and the club is all about giving the juniors a chance to develop and stay at the club for a long time."
Dixon said he was happy to have Powell on board as well as fellow Hawks Jason Campbell and Paul Buller, who started his footy with Souths.
"Luke wanted a change and we had a yack and it was done," he said.
"He's a class ruckman and a good voice on the paddock, as are Paul and Jason."
Dixon said the fire that gutted the Fretwell Park clubhouse last year had stalled their recruitment efforts, but also brought the club together.
"It has meant the juniors are around us more, and it has really helped the culture in a way," he said.
Last Modified on 04/04/2013 17:42