Page 65 - Tropic Magazine Issue 30

TROPIC • SPORT

Credit: @liamgillbertt

Marching in

AFL
Footy fever has descended
on Far North Queensland as
St Kilda prepares to host the
Adelaide Crows in Cairns.

A close-to-capacity crowd of 8,500 is
expected at Cazalys when the Saints call
Young gun the stadium home on June 12 for Round
13 of the Toyota AFL Premiership. In the
lead-up, the players will tour local schools
ATHLETICS
Gilbert has also qualified for the World and clubs and will also have an open
Australian decathlon champion U20 Championships in Kenya, however training session on the Wednesday before
and Cairns resident Liam Australia won’t be taking a team due the match. AFL Cairns Events Manager
to the COVID-19 pandemic and a
Gilbert is eyeing off a top three heightened security risk in the African Jane Clarke told Tropic it’s a chance to see
some of the game’s best up close. “It’s not
world ranking. country. He’s now focusing squarely on every week you get elite level sport in the
the Oceania Invitational, travelling to the region,” she said. “It’s great for Cairns
19-year-old Liam Gilbert took gold Gold Coast for the June event. and also one of the most entertaining
in the under 20 men’s decathlon “It’s still a great opportunity to represent sports to watch so we encourage people
at the Australian Track and Field my country again and hopefully produce to get a ticket. It will be a great game!”
Championships in Sydney in April, after a great result and secure myself in the St Kilda co-captain Jarryn Geary, who
scoring first placings in five of the ten top three of the world rankings,” he said. visited the region earlier this year,
events. The former Saint Augustine’s “Obviously, I will have other comps as well is expected to take to the field after
College student told Tropic the win felt that I will be training for, including State recovering from a broken leg.
amazing. “Having missed out on last Championships at the end of the year, but The game has been scheduled
year’s nationals and fouling out in one this will be my main focus immediately prior to the team’s mid-
of my events at the nationals previous to moving forward.” season bye so the players can enjoy what
that, it feels really good to finally prove Aside from his hectic training schedule, the Far North has to offer.
what I’m really capable of and show that the teenager is also planning to start a
all my hard work and training is paying university degree in Sports and Exercise
off,” he said. Science next year. MORE: afl.com.au

SEE US ROAR

JULY
TH

HOME GAMES 19 TH JUNE, 3RD JULY & 17

northcairnstigers.com.au

65 • tropicnow.com.au