Brisbane Lion and former Irish Gaelic footballer, Pearce Hanley, polled the most votes tonight at the AFL’s Brownlow Medal count for an international player. In a very small field, Hanley polled three votes in the final home and away match of the year when the Lions upset the Western Bulldogs. They were his only votes for the season which was ruined by injury and was his lowest Brownlow medal tally since 2011.

Dashing Carlton defender Zach Tuohy, also from Ireland, also polled two votes for his game against St Kilda in Round 4. He was the only other international player to poll votes in this year’s Brownlow Medal count.

Two Western Bulldogs players of multicultural backgrounds also polled this year. Jason Johannisen, born in South Africa, polled in two matches to finish the night with four votes whilst his team mate Lin Jong, of Timorese and Taiwanese descent, also polled in two matches for a total of two votes.

The footy season is well and truly over across the northern reaches of Queensland. The competitions in Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton, Mackay and Mount Isa drew to a close with the completion of the AFL Cairns finals last weekend. Following is a brief look at each competition for the 2015 season.

AFL Cairns:

The Cairns Saints continued their remarkable decade, in fact generation, of dominance when they came from third place at the end of the home and away season to pinch the flag again. It brings their remarkable tally to 13 flags since 1994. For a more complete picture of the Saints’ history go to Cairns Saints Empire Rises Higher.

With minor premiers, Port Douglas, going out in straight sets the door opened for the Saints to defeat South Cairns Cutters, which they did in a close match by just nine points. Final scores saw Cairns Saints 14 12 96 d South Cairns Cutters 13 9 87.

Footy in Far North Queensland is always a challenge, usually due to the beautiful winter climate, which whilst absolutely gorgeous for the local population and hordes of visitors can be taxing on the footballers racing about in mid to high twenty’s temperatures.

But that meteorological explanation aside, it takes a remarkable team, in any language to build any football dynasty anywhere at any time. Which is why the performances of the Cairns Saints footy team is worthy of note, or more accurately, celebration.

Last weekend the Saints added yet another chapter to their incredible story of success, which is now beginning to rival the best of clubs anywhere in Australia. Their victory over the South Cairns Cutters on the big day – winning a tough contest by just nine points 14 12 96 to 13 9 87 – placed yet another flag to drape on any unused wall and another premiership cup in the glass cabinet. Problem is the club is fast running out of walls and any additions to the trophy cabinet have to be prised in with a crow bar.

From the land of the long white cloud, and the playing fields of the South Pacific – not the normal talent pathway but a talent pathway characterised by unusual footy privileges such as national representation. This is the pathway taken by Kurt Heatherley and Shem Tatupu; a pair of New Zealanders, who have reached the cusp of the bigtime – as listed rookies at Hawthorn (Heatherley recently re-signed. Having progressed from taking on Tonga, Nauru or Papua New Guinea they now grace the fields of metropolitan Melbourne representing the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL. And today – they represent the Hawks, the Hawthorn AFL affiliate (feeder club), in the VFL Grand Final against the proud heritage of the stand-alone Williamstown Seagulls.

 

The Northern Territory’s own NEAFL team, the NT Thunder, qualified for this year’s Grand Final last weekend setting up a home event against the Aspley Hornets to decide the NEAFL premiership for 2015. Territorians have spent the week preparing TIO Stadium in Darwin ready for the match, aware that it will be a national showcase for the venue.

The Thunder enjoyed a strong season, finishing second on the home and away ladder behind the UWS Giants. Last weekend they won their Preliminary Final against Sydney University by 70 points to reach the big day. This will be the third time in a Grand Final for the Thunder after having won the inaugural NEAFL flag in 2011 by defeating Brisbane club Morningside, then being beaten in the 2012 final by the Brisbane Lions.

Their opponent, the Aspley Hornets, have been perennial finalists also. Last year they won the flag by defeating the Sydney Swans by just two points. In 2013 they went down to the Brisbane Lions. Both the Hornets and the Thunder have been regular finalists since 2011.

We take a look at the International Players in Week 1 of the 2015 VFL Finals Series.

Week 1 of the VFL Finals kicked off with Box Hill Hawks easily accounting for last year’s Premiers Footscray by 40 points at Box Hill City Oval in their Qualifying Final. Kurt Heatherley (NZ) had 8 kicks 4 handballs, 5 marks and one tackle in defence. Up forward Shem Tatupu (NZ) kicked just the one goal and three behinds, but had a hand in a number of others, finishing with 6 kicks and 7 handballs. Lin Jong was named best for Footscray.

The AFL tonight confirmed the fixture for week one of the 2015 Toyota AFL Finals Series, to be as follows (all times are local):

Friday September 11
Second Qualifying Final, West Coast v Hawthorn at Domain Stadium, 6.20pm

Saturday September 12
First Qualifying Final, Fremantle v Sydney Swans at Domain Stadium, 1.20pm
Second Elimination Final, Western Bulldogs v Adelaide Crows at the MCG, 7.20pm (series ticket match)

Sunday September 13
First Elimination Final, Richmond v North Melbourne at the MCG, 3.20pm