The Brisbane Lions have an extra set of eyes in the Far North in a massive boost for the AFL prospects of Cairns juniors.
New Manunda Hawks coach Brad Sinclair will also act as the Lions' talent scout, watching games and carnivals and relaying notes to the Gabba headquarters.
The region is linked to the Gold Coast Suns - the best young local players are part of the Suns Academy - but there is nothing stopping other clubs having a look at what's running around north of the south-east corner.
And after the rise of former Hawks junior Sam Michael (who debuted for the Lions last season), Sinclair hopes they can net another potential superstar.
"We aren't standing on the Suns' toes, it's just a set of eyes for the Lions and another opportunity for kids up here," he said.
"Sam definitely made the Lions take notice and no doubt we have missed out on a few kids. At the end of the day it's a draft system; you go where you're told. So there's nothing stopping any club from doing this."
Fellow Cairns juniors Charlie Dixon (Suns) and Peter Yagmoor (Collingwood) are linked with AFL clubs, while more experienced pair Jarrod Harbrow (Suns) and Courtenay Dempsey (Essendon) are also from the Far North.
Lewis Moss and Rex Liddy were also picked up by the Suns, but have been delisted.
"There is plenty of talent up here and coming from Victoria I know it's really hard to get through the system. Up here in the north is where you want to be," Sinclair said.
"I remember telling the guys at St Kilda to come and have a look at Jeremy Camereon. They didn't, he went to the Giants and after two seasons is the All Australian full forward."
The new Hawks coach was a high performance coach at St Kilda in the mid 2000s while coaching their VFL team the Casey Scorpions.
Before that he was in charge of AFL development at Bateman's Bay and in 2009 guided Nilma Darnum to their first Ellinbank and District Football League premiership in more than 50 years.
His last stint was at Phillip Island, a club he describes as the "best one yet".
But the lure of working with the Lions, and living in a warmer climate that is more forgiving of his hip problems, has delivered him to Cairns.
"I thought Phillip Island would probably be my last posting," he said.
"This Brisbane work is a great opportunity though and (returning Hawks president) Richard Martin got in touch and told me they were looking for a coach."
The vacancy has been created by the departure of player-coach Clinton Gribble to Western Australia, while club founder Norm Miller has again stepped aside for Martin's reinstatement.
The Hawks won the AFL Cairns premiership in 2011, but have slipped off the pace since then, missing out on finals last season.
"The culture needs to change and I'm not afraid to make some hard calls to do that," he said.
"SO far the guys ahve bought in though.They'll have to keep doing that to see the benefits."
Sinclair hopes to recruit at least four players form the NTFL who will live in Cairns during the season, but has put a line through the club's recent policy of flying in players for cameos.
"We won't be doing that, it doesn't work for anyone."
Photo and article supplied by The Cairns Post.
Last Modified on 06/11/2014 15:16