Sport
26 June, 2026
Heartbreak for the Doggies
CUTTERS beat Bulldogs, Crocs win against Saints, Hawks lose to City Lions.
Cairns Saints 12.08.80 defeated by Port Douglas Crocs 24.18.162
SAINTS coach Chris Novy’s address to his troops at the quarter time huddle at Griffiths Park on Saturday was upbeat and passionate, imploring his players to keep taking the fight up to the Crocs in what was a fast and physical first term, a frenetic quarter of football that had the Saints leading the undefeated top of the table Crocs on the scoreboard at the first change.
And the big home crowd on ‘Ladies Day’ that had gathered to watch Charlie Dixon – a Cairns Saints junior who went on to play 221 AFL games with the Gold Coast Suns and Port Adelaide Power, were loving it.
Unfortunately, for the Saints, that’s where the fairytale ended as the Crocs clicked into gear, with elite midfielders Murphy Short and Liam Brandt dominating clearances with 16 between them while racking up 27 and 26 disposals respectively. Up in the forward line the Crocs divvied up the goals, Shay Linke and Brodie Francis both bagged 5 majors while Liam Bartels and Max Hamphill finished the day with four goals apiece.
For the Saints Charlie Dixon was the major ball winner with 20 touches, seven clearances, seven tackles and a goal while Zac Straker was the main goal scorer with five for the day.
South Cairns Cutters 15.20.110 defeated Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs 14.8.92
HEARTBREAK and despair are synonymous with sport and that’s what the Doggies experienced as the final siren sounded at Fretwell Park last Saturday.
It was a cracking contest between two top four teams, with a result that could’ve gone either way right up until the death. But momentum is a funny thing.
The Dogs banged on the first four goals of the final term to give themselves a 15-point lead and looked unstoppable as their supporters dared to dream, only for the pendulum to swing the other way, with the Cutters belting the next five goals to seal a hard-fought victory.
The Cutters’ Jordan Harrington and Ethan Bush were their major ball winners with 29 and 24 touches respectively while big Tex Korewha finished with three goals for the match and Michael Dejonge kicked two.
For the Bulldogs, Cody Stackelberg had 25 disposals while his brother Connor booted eight majors, supported up forward by Josh Butland who finished with four.
Young pup Nash Courtney, who’s taller than our CBD’s 15 storeys building code, was a standout in the ruck for the Doggies, finishing the game with 35 hit outs.
Cairns City Lions 16.13.109 defeated Manunda Hawks 9.6.60
CAIRNS City Lions gave their finals hopes a nudge with a comprehensive win over the Manunda Hawks on Saturday at Holloways Beach.
The Lions currently sit just outside the top four in fifth place on the AFL Cairns ladder, equal on points with the Bulldogs in fourth, but less than half their percentage.
The Lions welcomed back excitement machine Tyron Rainbird for the first time this season and he didn’t disappoint, kicking four goals for the match while teammate Darcy Morris bagged five.
Playing coach Scott Riordan led the way for the Lions with 29 touches and was well supported by his skipper, Beau Flint, who had 27.
For the Hawks, co-captain Josh Welsford starred again with a game high 32 disposals while Ezekial Frank was busy with two goals.
