His heart says Saints, his head Souths and his body just needs a rest.
A visibly weary Tom Clough accepted Monday nights Crathern Medal as a runaway winner, tipping the Cutters to be too strong in Saturdays' AFL Cairns decider.
The crocs on baller almost doubled the next highest vote getter Charlier Haley in the count to cap a dominant season in the engine room for the minor premiers.
But Clough wont play this weekend, his side bundled out of the finals in consecutive losses to Souths and Saints.
Saturday's crushing two point loss, in which they made a mess of things with only seven straight kicks in 29 shots on goal, meant the Port boys had a premature silly sunday.
By Monday night, a tired looking Clough admitted he needed some sleep, the ball magnet still dissapointed with how their premiership defence wound up. "It was tough," he said, "things dont always go the way you want them to though and yeah pretty much we had a bid weekend (following the loss)."
The silver lining for the former Gold Coast player was the medal around his neck, though. Clough said it was a case of gradual improvement since moving to North Cairns and then Port Douglas. "I thought I had a much better year again this year and I have just improved in general since I've come up here," the cabinet maker said. "I came to Cairns for something new and then when my mate Daniel Cross went to Port, I was keen to play with him and I've really enjoyed it up here."
Saints are by far the more experienced finals side - they will contest their ninth straight final on Saturday - and while Clough has a soft spot for them and full forward Matt Walsh in particular, he said South's list is hard to disregard. " I wouldn't mind seeing Saints get one there for Walshy, who's had such a great season (he kicked his 1000th AFL Cairns goal this season) but Souths are pretty dominant," he said. "Souths has a lot to play for, not having been there for a while and they have a quality side."
Clough said the battle in the middle between Cutter and last years Crathern winner Zac Ewer and Saint Jack Philp would shape the contest, while he tipped Lukas Ehlich to play a big role for the Cutters. "I played with Lukas at Norths and I know hell really want to win a flag," Clough said.
Article Courtesy of Murray Wenzel The Cairns Post
Last Modified on 17/09/2015 14:33