Sport
2 March, 2026
AFL, union and league prep for season
IT’S been a big fortnight for local sports in Douglas Shire, with many starting to make their return to their 2026 pre-season training and preparations, while others are starting to round out their season and prepare for a late finals push.
With the warm weather still being very prevalent, that hasn’t deterred local squads from getting back into the training routine, with lots of clubs trying to erase disappointing finishes from 2025 and find their way back up to the mountain top for season 2026.
The Port Douglas Crocs have had a very exciting off-season, bringing back ‘super coach’ Brad Cooper to coach the senior men’s squad as they look for redemption and are hungry for further success.
The Crocs have also had an array of re-signing on both the men’s and women’s sides, being able to lock away some great young players and secure their bright future.
Their first game falls on Good Friday where they’re at home against the North Cairns Tigers, the team who knocked the senior squad out of finals contention last year and the Crocs are hungry for revenge.
Both the Mossman Sharks and Port Douglas Reef Raiders have begun their pre-season training too.
The Raiders, who got off to a slow, disappointing start last season, look to run off their late season momentum to begin this season incredibly strong.
The Mossman Sharks, who also had an early finals exit, are eager to get back on the field and redeem themselves from last year.
After the Sharks’ fierce rivals Cairns Brothers brought their premiership cup to an end, the squad is determined to bring another one back to Mossman this season.
While all these teams are trying to get back into shape and form, the Port Douglas Muddies are nearing the end of their season.
While the fourth division side’s season is all but over, the third grade boys are still well in the hunt for a finals berth.
While not easy to win, their last two games and the fourth spot Rovers to lose, their remaining games mean it is still very much mathematically possible to slide into that last finals spot.
Even though the odds are against them, the Muddies are looking to just focus on winning their remaining games and hope for the best.
