The well-drilled
Cairns combination was too proficient for a representative Queensland
Stockmen side laced with several quality State League players in the
curtain-raiser at Tony Ireland Stadium on Saturday.
The
match was essentially a selection trial for the Queensland Country side
to participate in the National Country Championships in Shepparton next
month, and plenty of AFL Cairns players put their hands up.
In fact, 13 of them were included in the 31-man Stockmen squad named immediately after the game.
There
are eight Gold Coast players in it, including Clint Watts, Mark Lynch,
Ben Walters and Matt Clarke from first division clubs. Plus top level
Brisbane-based players Andrew Browning, Sam Brown, Matt Logan and Brock
Turton have also been included, having originally played in the country.
But
it was Cairns who were all the rage on the weekend, registering a
comprehensive 17.9 (111)-10.12 (72) win over the Stockmen invitational
side.
Cairns dominated the opening term but led by just five points at quarter-time,
with former Broadbeach club champion James Drake and Browning
constantly thwarting their advances by playing as a loose man in
defence.
Big
ruckman Jeff Smith was outstanding from the opening bounce for Cairns
and the momentum he generated eventually paid dividends.
Quality
full-forward Matt Walsh started finding space on the lead and kicked
two good goals from 50m in the second term as his side opened a handy
22-point lead at the main break.
Walsh finished the match with four goals and was a constant threat.
Stockmen key forward Adrian Hill popped up regularly when the ball did go into attack and finished with 3.4 for the day.
The delivery to he and Shaun Mugavin was poor in the first half as Cairns placed the Stockmen under enormous pressure.
Cairns Saint Matthew Dwyer was busy throughout, while Jason Elliott and veteran Fred Pittorino also excelled.
Mackay
utility Jon Price did plenty of good things for the Stockmen, although
Drake and Browning were clearly their side’s standouts.
Local Townsville ruckman Andrew Grubba did some good things and kicked a brilliant solo goal in the second quarter.
Stockmen squad:
Clint
Watts, Mark Lynch (Southport); Jason Smith (Coolangatta); James Drake,
Brent Rynehart, Matt Fife (Palm Beach-Currumbin); Matt Clarke
(Labrador); Ben Walters (Broadbeach); Marcus McMillan, Jeff Smith, Luke Powell, Cayden Beetham, Steve Shaw, Gareth Hose, Matt Walsh,
Adam Pitt, Matt Dwyer, Jason Elliott, James Cotsworth, Hayden Foss,
Dane Bergman (Cairns); Andrew Browning, Sam Brown, Matt Logan
(Morningside); Brock Turton (Mt Gravatt); Caleb Brown (Mayne); Richard
Wenham, Val Pope (Western Magpies); Rohan Cash (Wilston-Grange); Shaun
Mugavin (Aspley); Jon Price
Scoreboard:
AFL Cairns, 2.1, 9.2, 12.7, 17.9 (111)
Queensland Stockmen, 1.2, 5.4, 7.6, 10.12 (72)
Goals, Cairns: M Walsh 4, F Pittorino 3, S Shaw 2, D Bergman 2, H Barnett 2, G Oughton, S Hobbs, J Coatsworth, M Dwyer
Stockmen: A Hill 3, S Mugavin, 3 B Heffernan-Roper 2, P Burger, A Grubba 1.
Best, Cairns: J Smith, M Dwyer, J Elliott, F Pittorino, L Powell, S Shaw
Stockmen: J Drake, J Price, C Brown, A Browning, M Fife, M Logan.
Last Modified on 13/03/2009 12:20