The Cutters have ambitiously recruited from interstate and within Cairns as they bid to improve from a third-place showing in 2007.
Heading the list of eight new faces to the club is new assistant coach Marcus McMillan.McMillan is a proven forward for Yarrawonga in the talent laden Ovens & Murray Football League.
Coach Steve Daniel has earmarked his prized recruit for the centre half forward slot, providing support for leading goalkicker Steve Shaw. But the incoming list at Fretwell Park does not stop with McMillan. Renowned ball winner at VFL level, Hayden Foss looks likely to add extra spark to the Cutters midfield after transferring from Geelong's VFL side. Daniel has also brought former Seymour players Pat Rattray and Shane Cockerell into the Cutters' fold.
AFL Cairns interleague representative and former Cairns City Cobra David Price has switched to the Cutters with teammate Joey Morrison while North Cairns' Scott Shelley has also made the move south. Former Collingwood player Rupert Betheras is among five former Cutters coming back to the club. It adds up to a potentially exciitng season for the South Cairns faithful.
Their team made the preliminary final last year but lost more games than they won. It means there is plenty of improvement required, a point not lost on coach Steve Daniel. "Last year we finished third but personally I felt we were a little bit off the Hawks and Saints, and we've made it a priority to get up to that level," Daniel said.
"We wanted a couple more forwards to help Shawy out, so picking Marcus McMillan, Pat Rattray and Scotty Shelly up helps us in those areas." Add an injury free Laurence Angwin, and the Cutters are likely to have plenty of ammunition in front of goal this season."Having Laurie Angwin this year now, and hopefully injury free in the forward line also, it's gonna be pretty hard to try and man up," Daniel said. "And I wanted to pick up a few more on-ballers as well, that's why Hayden Foss, it was terrific to get a player of that calibre straight out of the VFL."
Courtesy of the Cairns Post
Last Modified on 11/02/2009 10:06