Women’s
A SPECIAL primetime standalone Friday 7pm timeslot kicks off round five in the tropics with Cutters hosting the unbeaten, and thus far dominant, Tigers.
This is the reverse fixture of the ANZAC Day clash a fortnight ago, but even after having a previous meeting, it is going to be a tough ask for the Cutters against a defensive unit that has conceded a scarcely believable ten points all year. Expect a boost for the home team from a raucous Fretwell Park.
Saturday sees AFL Cairns take a very special trip with Port Douglas hosting Cairns Saints on its Pink in the Tropics Day.
Pink in the Tropics is a Breast Cancer Support group for those who have been recently diagnosed, undergoing treatment and to celebrate breast cancer survivors.
The first game of the day sees the Crocs host the Saints in a game between the two winless teams in the comp. Expect the Crocs to come out firing on a big day and get their season underway.
Our final game in the women’s fixture sees the unbeaten premier Lions host this year’s early surprise packet in the also unbeaten Bulldogs.
The Lions will be smarting after conceding their first goal of the season (yes, the entire 2025 season) and their defence will be in for another test against a Dogs outfit that can definitely hit the scoreboard.
It would be a major scalp for the Dogs to stamp them well and truly as contenders for season 2025.
Men’s
PINK in the Tropics Day continues as Port host their old adversary in the Saints, with teams seemingly on opposite trending trajectories.
Port needed a final quarter blitz to get past the winless Hawks, while the Saints claimed perhaps their most impressive win of the last two years, downing the Tigers in a thriller.
This clash will provide a very tangible litmus test for the Saints, as they look to overturn an 89-point thumping in their last game of 2024 against the same opponents in a parochial Croc Nest.
Norths host the winless Hawks at seemingly no better time as they come off back-to-back regular season losses for the first time since 2023.
Hosting the cellar dwellers can be a double-edged sword though, with a loss really signalling panic stations for last years grand finalists.
While the Hawks will look to play on this pressure, it is just a question as to whether they can hang around long enough to capitalise on it.
After vanquishing two-time premiership player Brandon Ellis, former Brownlow medallist Dane Swan and last year’s premiership Cutters last round out, Lions will be looking to consolidate their hot start to 2025 as they entertain the Dogs at ITEC.
They encounter an improved Dogs side who, have started the season a lot hotter than some were predicting, much like their women’s counterparts.
This week they also have the added benefit of coming off the bye. They will need that and more on the day to go their way in order to beat the hottest team in the comp so far.
