The Jared Brennan experience was a success for the Cairns City Lions and the man himself hopes to make a habit of it after the club posted rare back-to-back wins at Holloways Beach.
The Lions resisted a Manunda surge after half-time that reduced a big lead to 11, before the home side powered home for a 19.11(125) to 10.4(64) win against the young Hawks.
It followed their tight victory against Centrals last weekend and lifted them into fifth on the ladder.
Brennan, a veteran of 173 AFL games, showed glimpses of his best form as he grabbed a screamer in front of the big crowd in the second half from an intercepted kick in the mid-field.
Not having played or even trained since early in the year, the former Brisbane Lions and Gold Coast Suns human highlight-reel did not always hit his target. But every time he went near the ball the lively Mother's Day crowd stopped and watched, braving the occasional bursts of rain, to provide one of the best atmospheres the ground has seen.
Brennan, who lives in his hometown of Darwin since retiring from the AFL last season, said he was keen to return and play enough games to qualiry for finals.
"I want to come back and help out coach Marc Harbrow and the lads and hopefully stay a couple of weeks, train with them, get to know them and have a few beers with them," the father of three said.
"I hope they can keep winning - that's two on the trot now - it's a great family club here so it's easier to come back and help out cause they are such good people."
"It's a strong rugby league and AFL town so to promote the game is good in that sense."
Brennan started in the half-forward line but moved onto the ball in the second half as Manudna surged back from a 39 point half-time deficit to come within two straight kicks.
But the Lions steadied after being gifted a 50 metre penalty, Scott Hughes and Adam Gross worked beautifully together in the forward line to combine for 11 goals and big Liam Woodcock-Nolan sealed the result with a goal after playing on from 50 metres.
"It was super impressive. The skill level was pretty good, the boys dug in deep when it started raining, we got challenged in the third by the Manunda Hawks but the boys played well in the fourth," Brennan said.
"And it was good to grab one (a big mark). I haven't taken one in a while and didn't think I stil could."
Last Modified on 06/11/2014 15:02