Cairns Lions under 18 coach Eddie Skiba expects a fierce battlle for Country Kookaburras spots at the AFL Queensland Country Championships in Rockhampton.
The Lions started their bus jouney south yesterday morning and spent the night in Townsville before resuming their trip today.
With Games against Central Queensland Counrty (Townsville, Mackay, Capricornia) and South Queensland Country(Darling Downs, Bubdaberg, Wide Bay) awaiting the Lions, Skiba said the talent pool in regional areas areas was getting deeper. 'It gets a bit harder every year at these championships because the other regions are getting stronger'. he said.
'We're strong enough to go in as just Cairns, but there is not a lot of difference between the five-10 best players in each side'.
The Lions have bolstered their squad for the championships by adding southern-based Far Northen products Tim Hanly, Jye Bohm, Sam Michael, Luke Chitty and Josh Avison.
The Championships double as a trail for the Counrty Kookaburras, which play at the state championships in Brisbane next month.
Nine Cairns players made the Kookaburras in 2009 ans Skiba is hopeful of a simular number this year.
'It will be tough but the boys have been working hard' he said.
Last Modified on 27/10/2010 16:15