The Port Douglas Crocs gave a footballing lesson to reigning premiers North Cairns Tigers on Friday, winning 26.15 (171) to 5.5 (35).

The Crocs dominated across the ground from the first siren, with Murphy Short racking up possessions at will and former Adelaide Crow Jared Petrenko commanding the half-back line.

Up forward, club legend Kye Chapple kicked another lazy seven goals, while new recruit Shay Linke, who has played for Port Adelaide and Central District in the SANFL, kicked four, along with another club stalwart Liam Bartels.

Many of the recruits starred throughout the lopsided encounter, with another former SANFL player Jake Cook also playing a top game.

A host of players have been recruited from Mulwala in Victoria’s Murray league, with Wally Thomson, Max Hemphill and Josh Ednie all showing good signs on Friday.

And there are still up to six regular A-graders to come back in, while several top-line players such as Callum Reid, Sam Wall and Brodie Francis helped the reserves side to a 10.10 (70) to 6.3 (39) win in the early game, boding well for the rest of the season.

It appears the club will have more depth this year after the seconds struggled in 2025.

The Crocs women, however, were soundly beaten by the Tigers 9.9 (63) to 0.2 (2).

The next game for all three teams is on Saturday, April 18, away to the Cairns Lions, while the next home game is building up to be a spectacle, with former Richmond champion Dusty Martin set to play here on May 2.