Sport
30 September, 2024
Cutters create AFL history
A SCINTILLATING performance from the Lions, not only delivered them a long awaited women’s premiership against their closest rivals for season 2024, but also avenged their preliminary final defeat two weeks ago.
Grand final review Women’s
Cairns City Lions (10.13) def North Cairns Tigers (4.6) by 43 points.
Forty-three points seems like it was smooth sailing for the Lions and in the second half it was as smooth as grand finals can get, as the 32-9 second half scoreline attests.
Unfortunately for the vanquished Tigers, history will surely forget how close they were. Rarely do you get smashed in any game, let alone a grand final, after leading well into the second quarter.
The Lions though were not to be denied and few can begrudge them this victory, after both the season they have had and the wait they have endured. Denisha Chilman was instrumental in the Lion’s victory and was a deserving winner of the best on ground medal.
Men’s
South Cairns Cutters (16.17) def North Cairns Tigers (12.9) by 32 points
SOUTHS and Norths entered this match with premiership droughts of 21 and 36 years respectively, and it was Souths who were able to finally quench their thirst.
A more open match than their 57-55 preliminary final, the Tigers were right in this and only trailed by four points (72-68) with 90 seconds left in the third term.
Two late goals by Liam McCarthy and Josh Clayton broke the game open and, while the Tigers chased hard, Souths were too classy and too experienced to allow any sort of fightback, thus ending a run of six straight grand final losses that started in the 2005 decider.
After losing just once this season, they proved themselves to be worthy champions.
Season 2025 is still six months away but do not be surprised if we get a repeat of the 2024 decider.
With a huge six goals for the game, the Cutters’ Damien Hill was a standout and awarded the Howard Kennedy Medal for best on ground.
