THREE Wimmera footballers represented North Queensland in an interleague match against South Queensland earlier this month.
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The three footballers were Port Douglas Croc captain Kye Chapple, Croc teammate Jonathan Hobbs and South Cairns Cutters player James Dixon.
Chapple previously played for Horsham United, Hobbs previously played at Kalkee and Dixon previously played at Edenhope-Apsley.
The final scoreboard read South Queensland 13.14 (92) to North Queensland 9.8 (62), but Chapple said he was pleased he had the opportunity to play at that level.
“It’s pretty much a couple more steps up from the level I have played at,” he said.
The side is chosen from seven leagues in the north of the state and Chapple said it was highly competitive to get into the team.
“We had a 50-man squad for a while and every training it was cut down until the coach was happy with all his players,” he said.
Chapple played in full forward for the whole game, he kicked two goals.
“I didn’t get a lot of opportunities,” he said.
“But it was a good experience.”
AFL scouts and spectators were at the game – it was a curtain raiser for the Gold Coast Suns verses Western Bulldogs match.
“It was good to play at a higher standard, see how I play against other good players from the state,” Chapple said.
“It was also good to play in front of some football hierarchy, it was a good opportunity to show off my skills.
“More and more spectators were streaming in towards the end of the game for the Suns verse Dogs.”
Chapple’s Port Douglas Crocs side in the AFL Cairns league has dominated in 2017 and has already sealed the minor premiership with four rounds to spare.
The side is undefeated with a 14-0 record.
Chapple has missed six games through injury this season but has still notched up 82 goals.
“Now we have our eye on the big one,” he said.
Dixon’s South Cairns Cutters are in third spot in the same league.