A SEASON on the Gold Coast has returning South Cairns teenagers Damien Dewis and Conor Napiorkowskiprimed to make a difference at their club this year.
The pair both played for Labrador last year, having grown up together playing for the Cutters.
Difficulty finding any substantial employment led them back to the Far North and they had an immediate impact in a 95point pumping of Centrals Trinity Beach at Crathern Park last weekend.
Napiorkowski, who has just started a zoology and ecology degree, said he felt good to be back in the green and red.
"It was a good level of footy certainly a step up and we did a lot of travelling to games. But we were only able to get a bit of work and we're happy to be back home," the 18-year-old said.
He and Dewis, 19, went to Bentley Park College together and will join forces back at Fretwell Park again this weekend.
"We've been mates forever and it's great to come back and play together again," Dewis, who is working with AFL Cairns, said.
"The skill level was higher back in the NEAFL on the Gold Coast, but my goal is to keep my high intensity and be consistent all season."
"Hopefully, I'll mature a bit as well, because I don't think I was quite ready to move down there when I did last year.
"Give me another season up here and I think I'll be better placed to go back down."
Dewis kicked five goals in last week's win and believes they can give Saints, who lost to North Cairns in a high-quality battle last weekend, a run for their money.
"It's a good challenge and a good time to play them I think, even though we know they'll come out hard," Dewis said.
Saints were overpowered by the Tigers in the final quarter last Saturday and Napiorkowski said they had the fresh, young legs to repeat the dose.
"We're a much younger team than them and we should be able to outrun them," he said.
"I think the team we have should be able to stack up against anyone this season."
Club president Lance Dixon was proud to have the duo back on deck.
"It's very satisfying because it shows we have done the right thing by them," he said.
"It's the best vibe we've had in years and we'd love a big crowd and a win on Saturday."
Action starts tonight when Centrals Trinity Beach hosts Cairns City Lions in a night game at Crathern Park, where both teams are searching for their first victory this season.
And tomorrow night Port Douglas will make use of their new lights for the second time this season, in a twilight battle with Manunda Hawks.
Last Modified on 08/05/2013 13:57