Sport
15 May, 2026
Distinct Indigenous round
SIX teams line up for annual matches playing tribute to First Nations peoples
Cairns City Lions v North Cairns Tigers
THE Cairns City Lions launch AFL Cairns’ Indigenous Round with their annual ‘Dreamtime by the Sea’ clash against the North Cairns Tigers on Saturday at Holloways Beach.
Coming off a big win at home last week against the Manunda Hawks, with Branden Deslandes picking up 42 disposals and Darcy Morris booting six goals, the Lions will be favourites against the out-of-form Tigers.
North Cairns Tigers, fresh off a bye and sitting in sixth position on the ladder, will be esperate to turn their fortunes around and find some of the form that took them to a premiership last year.
Tigers will once again be relying on ball-getter Nathan Spry to provide the drive and Darcy Keast to remain solid in defence, while their young Tiger cub recruits get more senior game-time under their belt.
Cairns Saints v Centrals Trinity Beach
IT was always going to be a tough ask last week for the Saints who were soundly beaten by league leaders Port Douglas after travelling up the Highway for Port’s annual Pink in the Tropics.
Losing young Zebb Mitchell to injury early in the game and then losing the experience and leadership of playing coach Chris Novy certainly didn’t help their cause.
Saints will be looking to regroup at home on Saturday and notch up their third win of the season.
Currently third on the AFL Cairns ladder, Centrals put up a good fight in their 21-point loss to the Cutters last week at Fretwell Park and will be working hard to give themselves a four-point buffer on the table as they take on fourth-placed Saints.
The Doggies key forwards in Connor Stackelberg and Josh Butland will be a handful for the Saints after bagging four and five goals respectively last week.
Manunda Hawks v Port Douglas Crocs
A SPECIAL game of footy on Saturday with not one, but two former AFL legends pulling on the brown and gold at Cazalys Stadium for the Hawks.
Four-time premiership player with Hawthorn and Geelong and Norm Smith medallist Isaac Smith, along with former Hawthorn teammate and co vice-captain Liam Shiels, will line up for the Hawks as they take on the undefeated league leaders Port Douglas.
When you look at the names and the stats on the Crocs playing list it’s not hard to see why they’re undefeated in season 2026.
The Crocs are number one in the league for contested possessions, clearances, hit outs and tackles.
They have three of the top four goal scorers in Liam Bartels, Shay Linke and Kye Chappel and hold the top two spots for disposals with Murphy Short and Brett McKeown.
The Crocs will be looking to make it six wins from six games in what will hopefully be an entertaining game with Smith and Shiels on the paddock.
