Crocs prepare to crown Best and Fairest in breakout season for women

Players of the Port Douglas Crocs are this week preparing to find out who among them will be named the best and fairest in the seniors, reserves and women’s sides. 

Taking place this Saturday night, the club are looking forward to celebrating the stand out performances of the players after a season filled with hard-fought victories, challenging losses and the history-making addition of a senior women’s side.

In the men’s, mid-fielder and Crathern Medallist, Liam Brandt, is going in as favourite with Brett McKeown also likely to poll well after a stand out year, particularly in the early stages of the season.

Saturday will also see a Best and Fairest winner for the inaugural senior women’s team, with captain Caity Walsh, the hot tip.

Up until this year, Port Douglas was the only club in the AFL Cairns league without a senior women’s side and its introduction was well received by many in the community.

Women’s coach, Chris Barber, said it was a step the club had to make.

“With the introduction of the under 17s last year, we needed somewhere for them to progress without having to go and play for a Cairns side,” he explained.

“It was great to see how much community support we received, especially in the beginning, and how many people we had that were keen to play”.

In fact, Port Douglas had the highest number of women’s registrations in the league with over 40 keen players putting their hand up.

Despite their club's infancy, the girls managed two wins throughout the season but Mr Barber praised their efforts throughout the year, not just in the games that saw a victory.

“This year was always going to be a development year and the fact that we won two games is huge, but the most positive thing we took out of it was our competitiveness all season,” he said.

“Some of the scores may not have reflected that but considering a lot of the side had never even played AFL before, it was great to see”.

Held at the Port Douglas Yacht Club, the count will not only celebrate talent on the field but also the dedication and camaraderie of committee members and volunteers who make the club what it is with the hard work behind the scenes.