Last year, AFL Cairns lost its annual AFL Premiership match to fierce rival, Townsville. After a proud history of hosting pre-season cup AFL matches, the city received a VFL match in 2010 between the Gold Coast Suns and the Bendigo Bombers (affiliated then with Essendon). 

From 2011 to 2018, Cazalys Stadium then hosted AFL Premiership matches featuring the Gold Coast Suns – a regular, linked heavily to the club’s talent academy in Cairns. Their opponents, Richmond, Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne, put on a show which captivated Cairns’ audiences on and off the field – but now that match is gone and questions remain as to the impact that will have on the local game, especially at grassroots level.

But four past and present VFL/AFL players use their knowledge of their time involved in Cairns footy, and on the bigger stage, to consider the state of Cairns footy – past, present and future.

The Round Six NAB AFL Women's Rising Star Nominees are Carlton's Georgia Gee, 19 and the Brisbane Lions' Jacqui Yorston, 18.

These two midfield nominations have come from the same match over the weekend.

Gee was selected by the Blues in the 2017 NAB AFL Draft at pick no.12 from Beaconsfield JFC and Dandenong Stingrays.

Gee's nomination has been coming for weeks now, as she has had many solid performances for her Blues throughout the season.

Image Source: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images & Herald Sun

In Round Six, Gee accumulated 12 disposals, eight kicks and two tackles in the Blues 16-point win over the Lions at Ikon Park last Sunday afternoon.

Carlton secured a 16-point win over the Brisbane Lions on a typical Melbourne weather day with rain and shine at Ikon Park.

In a match that was similar to a elimination final for Conference B, the contest was hot all day.

The Blues decisive win was steered by Maddie Prespakis, Amelia Mullane and Tilly Lucas-Rodd.

This win was set up by the Blues in the second half, where the Blues took full control over the Lions scoring four goals to two.

Image Source: @FoxFooty

The mighty Adelaide Crows thumped a bold Greater Western Sydney Giants by 32 points in hot conditions at Unley Oval.

It was the first ever AFLW match played at Unley Oval.

The Giants took it right up to the formidable Crows outfit making for an entertaining contest.

In the second half of the match, the Crows ran away with the match especially in the final term where they scored four goals to the Giants none.

The young guns of the Crows in Danielle Ponter, Anne Hatchard and Chloe Scheer handled the high-pressured match extremely well.

Image Source: Mark Brake

Next Saturday the NTFL Premier League season will come to a close when the Southern Districts Crocs attempt to retain their title and win back to back flags. Their demolition of the Tiwi Bombers last night at TIO Stadium saw them back into another big dance with a chance to seek their fourth flag.

Just last weekend, the Tigers trounced the Bombers to advance to the grand final. They looked a shade better than the rest. But Southern Districts have sounded an ominous warning to the Tigers after a blistering second half against the Bombers – they have told the Tigers outright that to win the flag you have to beat us.

After a tight first term, the Crocs got a little break on the Bombers by half time – a five goal break and a big rescue mission for the Bombers if they wanted to get back in the game. The 31-point deficit for the Bombers was significant, but not insurmountable.

Melbourne were victorious in a one point heartstopper over the Western Bulldogs under the roof at Marvel Stadium.

The Dees inaccurate goal kicking almost cost them the win, but they’re still in finals contention this season.

It was an entertaining contest from two quality teams, as they played amazing football.

The match had lots of ebbs and flows and was one of the best AFLW matches this season.

Image Source: Michael Wilson

The North Melbourne Tasmanian Kangaroos crushed a fearless Collingwood by 22 points under the roof at Marvel Stadium.

It was a marvellous win by North and this win from North is massive to keep their top two chances in Conference A well and truly alive.

After quarter time, North showed their superiority over the Magpies and it was led by their elite midfield.

Jasmine Garner, Jenna Bruton and Jamie Stanton were the standouts for North in the match.

Image Source: Michael Wilson

Fremantle put on a strong performance in fine conditions, as they thumped Geelong by 36 points at the GMHBA Stadium.

The Dockers ran away with the match in the second half keeping the Cats scoreless and the Cats could not get the football pass the centre line. 

The dynamic Dockers forward line caused headaches for the Cats.

Image Source: Scott Barbour

Image Source: AFL Women's 

Round 6 teams have been released below

Geelong vs Fremantle, Saturday 9th March 2:35pm at GMHBA Stadium

Geelong Cats Squad

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	A.Teague	40	R.Goring	44	M.McMahon	24
Half Backs	M.Hickey	18	M.McDonald	11	D.Taylor	27
Centreline			R.Cranston	30
Half Forwards	D.Orr	2	K.Darby	8	S.Van De Heuvel	27
Forwards	M.Clifford	7	P.McWilliams	23	J.Ivey	5
Followers	E.Hoare	46	R.Garing	12	O.Purcell	16
Interchange	R.Caris	1	M.Keryk	45	J.Crockett-Grills	6
	M.Boyd	26	C.Blakeway	4
Emergencies	G.Rankin	10	G.Clarke	17
	EMG4	EMG4_NO

In: - M.Boyd

Out: - G.Clarke

Fremantle Dockers Squad 

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	L.Mascall	14	T.Bresland	5	A.Stannett	24
Half Backs	A.Williams	9	E.Antonio	12	P.Seth	18
Centreline			K.Bowers	2
Half Forwards	G.O'Sullivan	22	A.Sharp	1	H.Miller	19
Forwards	K.Donnellan - C	15	G.Houghton	27	S.Duffy	6
Followers	P.Laurie	11	D.Hooker	17	S.Cain	20
Interchange	E.Gooch	8	A.Janz	30	A.Atkins	37
	M.Sergeant	23	M.Caulfield	10
Emergencies	L.Pugh	32	K.Grieve	13
	EMG4	EMG4_NO

In: - E.Gooch, A.Atkins

Out: - K.Gibson (injured), L.Pugh

Collingwood vs North Melbourne, Saturday 9th March 4:45pm at Marvel Stadium

Collingwood Squad

Position	Name	#	Name	#	Name	#
Backs	J.Allen	6	S.Casey	22	I.Ross	21
Half Backs	E.Grant	5	S.Livingstone	12	A.Brazill	10
Centreline			B.Bonnici	8
Half Forwards	D.Guttridge	34	J.Membrey	31	S.Dargan	46
Forwards	S.Rowe	7	S.D'Arcy	4	K.Lynch	16
Followers	E.Hyne	11	S.Chiocci - C	17	J.Lambert	13
Interchange	S.Layton	1	K.Stratton	41	R.Schleicher	18
	M.Shevlin	35	G.Gourlay	32
Emergencies	L.Butler	23	M.Cann	25
	EMG4	EMG4_NO

In: - S.D'Arcy, G.Gourlay

Out: - M.Kuys, S.Alexander

Back in the 2010/11 season, the Nightcliff Tigers claimed the wooden spoon. With just three wins for the season and some horrible score-lines, the Tigers as a club knew things had to change. And they did. Since then they have been a perennial finalist but their next premiership has eluded them – possibly until this year.

On Saturday the tigers mauled the Tiwi Bombers in their semi-final. Not only does that see the Tigers through to the 2018/19 grand-final, they have also earned outright favouritism after dismantling the Bombers by 90 points on the weekend and having hammered the Southern Districts Crocs, also by 90 points, in the final home and away round.

For either of those teams to win grand-final day, it would take a massive form turnaround, and it is hard to see the Nightcliff crew relinquishing their dominance.