SOUTH Cairns comfortably beat reigning AFL Cairns premier Manunda by 45 points on Saturday but the biggest story to emerge from the afternoon did not unfold in the senior match.
To the relief of the Cutters faithful, Souths forward Marcus McMillan made a successful return to the field in the reserves match after breaking his arm nearly two months ago.
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The injury was originally feared to be season ending but Cutters coach Steve Daniel is hopeful McMillan will be ready for the start of the finals series in two weeks.
"I expect him to play reserves again next weekend against Port but we might bring him up and use him off the bench and give him a little bit of game time at the senior level," he said.
"It’s just great to have him back out there after missing seven weeks."
The imminent return of McMillan, who established himself as one of the competition’s most dominant figures early in the season, will only boost the Cutters’ spirits, which would be soaring after dismantling fellow top-four side the Hawks 16.21 (117) to 10.12 (72) at Cazalys Stadium.
In warm conditions, which had players regularly looking for trainers and their water bottles, it was the Cutters who gave the Hawks reason to sweat.
With forward Daniel Lock also making a comeback, the Cutters opened up a 29-point lead in the first term but it was their showing in the second quarter that made Daniels the happiest coach this side of the Tweed.
The Cutters were superb in all the facets that win premierships – accurate kicking, strong marking, ferocious tackling and tireless run.
Daniel said it was the best he could remember the Cutters playing.
"I was really excited and I let the boys know that at halftime," he said.
"We lost our way a bit in the third – I think we kicked about eight behinds – but I suppose you take the good with the bad.
For obvious reasons Hawks coach Michael Purcell was not smiling like his counterpart but he was quick to put Saturday’s loss into perspective.
"Looking at the state of our side there will be seven changes for the first semi (in two weeks)," he said.
"While I’m not using that as an excuse and never would, the fact is we’ve got seven players who will walk straight into that side. When we get those blokes back I’m pretty sure it will strengthen us further."
