Wednesday, April 8, 2026
There’s a quiet edge building around Manunda ahead of this Saturday’s Round One AFL Cairns senior men’s clash against South Cairns — and 19-year-old Harry Riordan is right in the middle of it.
Preparing for his first hit-out of the season in a new role across halfback, Riordan admits there are nerves, but they are matched by a strong sense of belief driven by what he describes as the club’s most productive pre-season to date.
“This is the best pre-season I’ve been part of here,” Riordan noted.
“There’s been a real buy-in from the group. Everyone’s working for each other and taking pride in what we’re building.”
Under coach Brad Johansen, that collective mindset has become a defining feature of the Hawks’ preparation — and it is something Riordan is eager to carry into Saturday’s contest.
A shift to halfback flank has opened up a new dimension to his game. With a focus on speed, ball movement and transition, Riordan is clear about the impact he wants to have.
“I want to get the ball in my hands and drive our movement from the back,” he said.
“We’ve been working on playing fast, slingshot footy — moving it quickly and giving our forwards a chance earlier.”
His pre-season has centred on improving his running capacity and speed with ball in hand, allowing him to break lines and create momentum.
Even under pressure, Riordan leans into leadership.
“When I’m tired, I try to stay vocal, direct traffic and keep the energy up. It helps the team and keeps me switched on as well,” he said.
Off the field, Riordan is balancing a full-time physiotherapy degree with work, inspired by the Hawks’ own physio.
“I’d love to get into sports physio one day,” he said.
Now, the focus turns to Saturday — the Hawks round one clash against the Cutters gets underway at 2.30pm at Cazalys.
The Cairns City Lions and Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs will do battle in the other Round one match at Holloways.
The Crocs opened their campaign with a thumping 171 – 35 win over last year’s premiers, North Cairns Tigers, last week in Port Douglas.
