Sport
13 June, 2025
AFL’s toughest players
IT’S Ironman weekend in Cairns this weekend. To celebrate, we are highlighting the ironmen and women in the AFL Cairns competition on Saturday before the big race on Sunday.
Fresh off a bizarre and unfortunate abandoned game, Liam Hepworth is going to have an extra week to cool his heels after his 317th game as he and the Saints have the bye.
Up the Highway, the Crocs, enjoying a mini resurgence, host the rested Tigers. In terms of their ironmen and women, you could frame it as thus: home ironmen Kye Chappel and Harvey Moore with 337 and 330 games respectively, lead their team against 327 gamer and Tigers skipper Darcy Keast.
In the women’s twilight game bouncing off at 4.45pm, the second year Crocs, fresh off their biggest ever result against the reigning premiers, face no less a challenge against the Tigers. The young Crocs are led by Kayla McInerney who will play her 126th game, while the visitors are led by Hadassah Nicholson will run out for the 151st time.
The Cutters host the Bulldogs at Fretwell Park for mental health round, where a win would give the Cutters a buffer at the summit of the table. They will led, figuratively, by Mark Horne, running out for his 291st game, while the Cutters have in their ranks the evergreen James Dixon, who gets ever closer to the magical 400, as he will play his 388th.
In the women’s fixture, leading games getter in the comp Jade Ransfield leads the Bulldogs along with Yuki Shiroma as they combine for 358 games (190 + 168). For the Cutters, Kitara Whap Farrar will play her 159th match.
The fixture at ITEC group oval park between the Lions and the Hawks is the perfect fixture to signify Ironman weekend in Cairns.
Ashton Hams, if he plays for the home team, will play his 370th match, followed closely behind by Braedon McLean who will play match 347. The Lions women play the Saints.
