Fingers crossed Saturday's AFL Cairns preliminary final is a close one - like finals should be. After the whitewashes of the weekend's two semi-finals, it would be nice to see a tight contest. It is what many are tipping between the competition's second and third-placed teams. Manunda is now bracing themselves for a backlash after North Cairns were handed a 149-point walloping in the qualifying final by Cairns Saints. "It's going to be a hard game," Manunda Hawks coach Clint Gribble said. "I don't think there is much between us, and if a few blokes come back from injury (for either side), it only evens it up more." Norths were way off the pace against Saints - no two ways about it. But they have shown they can match whatever Manunda throws at them, and with ex Hawk Lukas Ehlich, it will certainly strengthen Norths' chances further. Saints star recruit Nick Gill had not played against Norths all season until Saturday's grand final qualifier. Post-game, he estimated that the Tigers had the edge over the Hawks, but said he would be watching with interest. "I'd say they've probably just got the wood over them," Gill said. "They can cane you in the midfield, like they did to us in that third quarter today, and there is some classy players there." Saints' big win on Saturday has not been overblown by the club, who vividly remembers what happened last season. They beat Manunda in the semi final by 92 points, only to lose to them a fortnight later by 35 points in the AFL Cairns grand final. "A few of the boys mentioned that straight after the game, so we know not to get carried away," Gill said. "Norths have come within four goals of us this season, so we know they can turn it on, and Hawks have beaten us. "So we'll have our work cut out either way."
Last Modified on 24/10/2012 10:34