Innisfail Leprechauns have teamed up with Mamu Health Service and will sport a special Indigenous playing kit this Saturday when they host Yarrabah in an inaugural Deadly Choices Invitational round at Callendar Park for their final home game of the season.
Yarrabah are sitting second on the ladder while Innisfail are in third and both teams are bound for finals footy as they finish in the top five.
After two losses in the first two rounds, Yarrabah defeated Mossman-Port Douglas in round three and after a loss to Edmonton in Round 4, went on to win five on the trot before a bye.
This was followed up by two wins after the bye and a loss to Cairns Brothers in Round 13.
Yarrabah then hit their straps at the right time with three straight wins, a bye followed up by two more wins, and after 19 rounds, have registered 13 wins and four losses.
The Seahawks go into the last game of the regular season with 11 wins, three losses and three away game draws against Kangaroos, Tully and Suburbs.
In their last clash at Jilara Oval, Yarrabah hung on for a thrilling two-point win over Innisfail.
In Round 18, Yarrabah ended a 12 game winning streak when they defeated ladder leaders Mossman-Port Douglas by 10 points.
Innisfail had a strong start to the season with two straight wins against Mossman-Port Douglas and Mareeba before Atherton ended their two game winning run.
The Leprechauns drew with Kangaroos in round four before a bye followed by another draw against their southern rivals Tully.
After a win over Ivanhoes, Innisfail ground out a draw against Southern Suburbs, before two straight wins.
Since two losses on the trot to Yarrabah and Mossman-Port Douglas, Innisfail have had good wins against Tully, Cairns Brothers, Ivanhoes and Kangaroos before a second bye.
Both teams go into the game with two straight wins under their belt, but neither will be complacent.
In reserve grade, Yarrabah are top of the ladder while Innisfail is in sixth so a win is crucial for them to stay in touch with the top five.
Innisfail is sitting in fourth place and Yarrabah in sixth and will a strong win in the final regular round to keep their slim finals chances alive.
Deadly Choices invited Innisfail and Yarrabah teams to participate in the match and will become an annual event, alternatively hosted by both clubs each year at their home grounds.
Both teams will be vying for the honours of lifting a specially made shield designed by Mandy Starkey from Raebon Trophies.
The invitational match is an initiative of the Deadly Choices teams from Innisfail and Yarrabah who brought the idea to both committees.
Jerry Deschamps, partner of Innisfail A Grade player Fred Koraba came up with initial design ideas for Innisfail's one-off jersey in collaboration with Emu Sportswear who came up with the final design.
Deschamps' brother Bryce Deschamps has also painted a couple of the players' boots with an Indigenous theme for the game.
Innisfail’s Deadly Choices team also funded half the cost of Innisfail players kit of shorts, socks and jerseys.
Deadly Choices will have a stall set up on the day with heaps of free giveaways and prizes up for grabs by filling out a survey and going into the draw, as well as a Diamonds In The Sky raffle on sale.
Innisfail PCYC will also be set up with some fun activities for the youngsters.
Gates open at 2pm and there are three games, with the Under 18 game kicking off at 3pm; Reserves at 4.30pm and A Grade at 6pm.
Main image: Innisfail A grade players Elia Mooka, Fred Koraba and Roy Mooka decked out in the special Indigenous playing strip they will be wearing in the Deadly Choices Invitational game against Yarrabah at Callendar Park on Saturday. Photo: John Fossey
