Essendon Districts slammed on 5 unanswered goals in the first term setting the early standard. Essendon Districts, the feeder league for the Calder Cannons and the Western Jets in the elite TAC Cup U18 competiton, showed their class with precise skills and hard running. The Cairns boys shell shocked by the increased tempo finally adjusted kicking 3 goals in the final term but Essendon ran out comfortable winners.
On Sunday it was time for the northerners to regroup for the Ray Hocking Cup against Riddell Football League in Riddells Creek. After a tight and physical opening term Riddell were first to break the deadlock kicking quick goals late in the term. This was a much improved effort by the Cairns Lions but the strength and class of the Riddell team, who also act as feeders to the Western Jets, proved to be too much.
The trip was a real learning curve for the players experienceing footaball against some of Victorias best. The team also had plenty of off field education as well with a talk from ex Western Bulldogs Champion and now Western Jets coach Steve Kretiuk as well as former Essendon Premiership player Adam Ramanaskus.
"It is imortant that our local players understand what the standard is like in other parts of the country and set their goals appropriatley" "This trip will sew the seeds for many of the boys continuing through the AFL Queensland U18 pathway in 2010"
Essenon Districts F.L. 19.15.129 def Piccones Cairns Lions 3.5.23
Goals: Dallas Abel 1, Brandon Lovell 1, Sam Raumer 1
Best: Luke Chitty, Damien Thompson, Josh Avison
Riddell F.L 17.14.116 def Picones Cairns Lions 5.6.30
Goals: Ben Graham 1, Nathan Weiss 1, Luke Chitty 1, Alex Carter 1, Josh Avison 1
Best: Alex Carter, Josh Avison, Michael Lovell, Jermaine Wardle
Last Modified on 09/04/2009 09:19