North Cairns president's warning: Tigers on the prowl in the AFL Cairns
Murray Wenzel
Saturday, September 8, 2012
© The Cairns Post
PLENTY of off-field hard work and a steady influence on it has helped North Cairns advance as a club this year, according to president Brett Potter.
With the seniors moving from outside the top four into second place and the reserves also a comfortable second, Potter can afford to be happy with where the club is at right now.
"Definitely we’re on track. The culture is good and the best thing is we have eight or so juniors pushing for regular, key spots in our seniors team," he said.
"There a plenty of people that have worked hard behind the scenes and coach Kane Richter is a very level-headed young man.
"It’s been a long hard road for our seniors to get back in finals."
Finishing second gives them the right to play minor premiers Cairns Saints today, with the winner earning direct entry to the grand final.
A realist, Potter was not about to broadcast the likelihood of an upset, considering Saints’ dominance of the competition so far.
"They are a damn fine side, so it’s going to be very tough for us," he said. "But we have some great players too. And we have just gone about our business quietly this season, which is the way we like it."
Among those key players is the electric Tom Clough and versatile Adam Mueller, as well as the player-coach Richter and lightning-fast Dwayne Bosen.
"Cloughy is an excitement machine and Mueller is just a freak; he can play anywhere," Potter said.
Key omissions today include forward Isaac Rokeby and midfielder Lukas Ehlich, who won a premiership with Manunda last season.
Despite showing instant form in his few matches to date, Ehlich is struggling with soreness since returning late in the season from a long-term injury.