SAINTS
FILLING the void left by James Coatsworth and then again by Brenton Powell was never going to be an easy assignment.
But heading into his third straight grand final, having won the past two, the Saints fraternity must be wondering how to replace Nick Braybon.
Named AFL Cairns coach of the year on Monday night, the big guy suggested all he had to do was “put the cones out and pump up the footies”.
But his teammates will tell you the award was more to do with his strategic mind, practical training drills and ability to connect with the playing squad.
Heading to Deniliquin Rovers next season to play alongside his brother in NSW’s Riverina region hugging the southern border, tomorrow’s grand final is a chance for Braybon to leave with three flags from three seasons.
“It would be nice, and of course really nice from the club’s perspective too,” the teacher said.
“But to look back on this period of time at Saints it will be very special and I will miss the place.
“There aren’t too many clubs like Saints any more, so I’m pretty fortunate.”
Braybon said this year has been much like the past two in that their full complement has rarely been on the park at the same time.
But like the past two seasons, they have come good and present a strong case for their 13th flag since 1994.
They have been in the past seven deciders and, in a worrying omen for rivals Port Douglas, tend to enjoy winning three on the trot.
Three times they have done that and tomorrow they will be aiming to make it four.
“It’s always good to be part of grand final week, particularly with both grades being there,” Braybon said.
Memories of last season’s stoic victory, in which four players were sent to hospital, have not been forgotten.
But Braybon said there was no need to dig up the past to motivate themselves.
“That was a hell of an experience and the boys have that in their back pockets, but the focus is on Port,” he said.
“They play similar to us and have a mature team that is very strong-bodied.
“We just need to be on our game in the centre, where it will be a huge contest and when we go forward be sure we don’t waste our opportunities.”
PORT DOUGLAS
AN ABSOLUTE confidence in their own form will be the key as Port Douglas endeavour to put an end to Saints’ September reign.
Nothing can diminish the sterling finals record of the Griffiths Park-based club, but coach Brad Cooper is adamant they have a team that can knock Saints off their perch.
Only Manunda – in 2011 and 2007 – have managed to do so in the last game of the season, while almost every other AFL Cairns club, including Port in 2010, have tried and failed since 1994.
Having won a flag as a player with the Crocs in 2005, Cooper thinks he has the troops that can buck the trend.
“We are backing the boys in,” he said.
“Our form’s been not too bad and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Port lost five games to finish third at the end of the regular season, but have only lost once in their last 10 encounters.
They displayed their hard edge in a preliminary final defeat of South Cairns last weekend, knocking out the minor premiers with a one-two combination of stifling defence and enterprising attack.
“I wasn’t surprised by that performance, the guys played to their ability and that’s been a fairly consistent thing lately,” the coach said.
Cooper is after his first AFL Cairns flag as a senior coach but is no stranger to finals footy and hopes to put his players in the best position for tomorrow’s decider.
“You try and impart knowledge on to the group as best you can, but at the end of the day they’ve got to turn up and play,” he said.
Not that Cooper doesn’t want to run through the banner with them.
“I feel like I want to play when they run out in a practice game (let alone a final), but my time’s done,” he laughed. “I’ll just be telling them to suck it up, don’t leave anything out there and enjoy the moment.”
The main sporting team in Aussie Rules-mad Port, Cooper said the town had come alive this week.
They had a crowd watch them train on Tuesday and expected more than 100 would turn out last night to watch their final run and team selection. “Yeah the town’s pumping,” he said.
“Everyone gets behind us and we had 50 or 60 at training on Tuesday.”
‘We’re just really looking forward to the contest.”
Last Modified on 23/09/2014 12:32