Former Essendon listed player Jake Long; son of Bombers legend and Norm Smith Medallist, Michael Long, headlines the North Queensland (NQ) squad list which AFL Queensland has announced.
The squad will compete in next month’s Queensland representative clash against South Queensland (SQ) on June 12th as the curtain raiser ahead of the Toyota AFL Round 13 St Kilda v Adelaide Crows match.
It caps off a stellar few days for Long, who was named Best on Ground in last Friday night’s AFL Cairns All Stars Game.
Joining him in the NQ navy is Luke Morgan, former Northern Blues VFL player, who is playing his first season in Cairns and comes highly credentialed.
Community Football Manager Queensland, Barry Gibson, said it was a new look NQ side which he believes will add some extra excitement to the game.
“There are a lot of new faces in the NQ team this year, with coach Aaron Davey keen to have a side that can play a fast brand of footy on the open expanses of Cazaly’s Stadium,” he said.
“There’s some quality names amongst their group, with numerous players boasting AFL, VFL and NEAFL experience.”
Last week the SQ squad list was announced, with the southerners hunting a win to make it five in a row.
But after four losses from the last four encounters, Gibson believes NQ have mustered up the talent and team to give themselves every opportunity to turn the winning tables in the seventh running of the Queensland rep clash.
“With both teams having now released their initial squads, there’s a strong sense that this year’s game could be on the closest since the first game back in 2014, when a solitary goal separated the two combatants,” he said.
The stage looks set for a thrilling contest. Kick off will be at 4:20pm at Cazalay’s Stadium, Cairns.
Past results
2014: NQ 13.10 (88) def SQ 12.10 (82)
2015: NQ 14.16 (100) def SQ 9.11 (65)
2016: SQ 12. 8 (80) def NQ 5.11 (41)
2017: SQ 13.14 (92) def NQ 9.8 (62)
2018: SQ 8.7 (55) def NQ 6.6 (42)
2019: SQ 10.20 (80) def NQ 4.8 (32)
(no game in 2020 due to COVID-19)
NQ Squad List:
CAIRNS
CITY LIONS
Jake Long
Nick Johnson
Branden Deslandes
Sean Connelly
Robbie Turnbull
Josh Rolfe
Beau Flint
CAIRNS SAINTS
Timakoi Bowie
Oliver Ritchie
Jacob Zboril
Zac Straker
Dane Watmuff
PORT DOUGLAS
Josh Mawson
Daniel Davidson
Josh Lea
Liam Brandt
CENTRAL BULLDOGS
Luke Morgan
Nick Thacker
Jack Taylor
Mark Horne
MANUNDA HAWKS
Elia Ware
Ezekeil Frank
Duncan Seden
Josh Gall
Joel Seden
SOUTH CAIRNS
Jermaine Wardle
Lachie Rhook
Jake Johansen
NORTH CAIRNS
Anthony Stewart
Alex Saunders
TOWNSVILLE
THURINGOWA
Joel Newman
Benjamin Eddy
CURRA
Ty Auton
Tom Kelly
HERMIT PARK
Callaway Parker
NORTHERN BEACHES
Shanon Gale
MACKAY
MACKAY MAGPIES
Julian Jacobs
Jordan Cullen
EASTERN SWANS
Benjamin Barba
NORTH MACKAY
Ashley Rohan
CAPRICORNIA
YEPPOON
Jamie Garner
Christian Burgess
Tom Cossens
Josh McKee
GLENMORE
Tim Higgins
