http://www.cairnspost.com.au/sport/local-sport/cutters-praise-saints-and-keep-cool-heads/story-fnjpuwsz-1226863207924
SOUTH Cairns were evidently rapt to win the weekend's AFL Cairns Preseason Cup, but made an even bigger effort to downplay the defeat of Saints ahead of this weekend's first round.
The Cutters pipped Saints by one point (3.3-21 to 3.2-20) at a drenched Cazalys on Saturday afternoon, but were careful not to get carried away with the result.
In fact, they decided not to sing their team song after the game, preferring a few quiet beers with an eye on Cairns City Lions in round one on Sunday.
Player-coach Daniel Lock agreed that any win against Saints, who won both the preseason and premiership cups last time round, deserved to be enjoyed.
But the lead-by-example Cutter has bigger plans than simply staring at a piece of silverware that everyone forgets about come this Friday night, when Saints and Norths open the AFL Cairns season at Cazalys.
"A preseason final is a reward for our hard work, but we'll keep a lid on it and the Lions are our main target," Lock said.
"Any time you beat Saints is pretty good, but we'll put it behind us pretty quick.
"I would like to see South Cairns towards the top and it's time for us to get fair dinkum."
Souths started the better of the two sides in a game where clean possession and even a standard chest mark was rare.
Saints missed an open goal with the ball skimming off the side of a player's boot just a smidgen from the line in the first quarter in what proved to be a decisive moment. Souths skipped ahead by seven points at half time but were kept scoreless in the third.
They steadied, though, putting together a composed sequence that resulted in the decisive and final behind with about five minutes left in the match.
"Days like this it's all about who is going to go in and win the footy and put their body on the line," Lock said.
"They threw a bit of pressure at us and the boys across the board weathered that storm, even though it wasn't pretty."
The rain didn't help things but the Cutters did appear to boast more weapons through the midfield.
"Definitely, across the board, every team has picked up at least four or five good players," Lock acknowledged.
"The bridge between teams has gapped up a bit and that's what you want (last season) I said I had a Christmas list, went after it and got a few boys with some leg speed.
"The season will be officially launched on Wednesday night before round one games are played on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
Photo and article courtesy of Cairns Post.
Last Modified on 06/11/2014 15:10