Sport
19 July, 2026
Stat leaders setting the pace
NUMBERS behind AFL Cairns’ stand-out performers in exhilarating run to finals.
AS we round the corner into the home straight of the season and pull out the whip for the run to September, let’s look at all the numbers and the players leading the stats after 12 rounds of home and away football in the AFL Cairns senior men’s competition.
Goals 51 – Connor Stackelberg (Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs)
WITH an average of 5.1 goals per game, Stackelberg forms part of a potent forward line for the Doggies, with teammate and last year’s Matt Walsh medallist (most goals for the season) Josh Butland sitting in equal second position on 48.
The two of them complement each other well and create match-up headaches for opposition teams.
Disposals 365 – Murphy Short (Port Douglas Crocs)
AN elite inside midfielder who averages 33.2 disposals per game, Short stands out in an already talent-laden Crocs midfield.
He’d be at skinny odds to take out the Crathern Medal for the league’s best and fairest this year, after finishing runner-up in the vote count last season.
Hit outs 377 – Thomas Cantwell (Port Douglas Crocs)
CANTWELL stands head and shoulders above the rest of the competition, averaging 37.7 hit outs per game and was rewarded with first ruck responsibilities for the Queensland Country representative team that took on Sydney/Canberra on the Gold Coast last weekend.
He gives his midfielders first use of the ball and has contributed greatly to the Crocs dominance in 2026.
Tackles 63 – Josh Welsford (Manunda Hawks)
IT’S not the year the Hawks were hoping for, with just the one win for the season so far, but co-captain Welsford is a shining light, averaging 6.3 tackles per game with his hard-nosed never-say-die determination.
Clearances 89 – Thomas Cantwell (Port Douglas Crocs)
NOT only is he dominating hit outs and feeding it to his midfielders for clearances, but he’s also doing it by himself – averaging 8.9 per game, with teammate Murphy Short a close second on 87.
In fact, Crocs players hold four of the top sixx positions for clearances this season, which all marries up nicely with their undefeated run so far in 2026.
Inside 50s 61 – Tom Fields (South Cairns Cutters)
NOT surprised that Fields leads this stat, with the weapon that is his raking left foot he can virtually penetrate the forward 50 arc from most positions on the ground.
A tough, competitive player that uses the ball, and his left foot, dangerously well, and usually backs himself when in range from around the arc.
