Several Hampden and Warrnambool and District league players have made the pilgrimage north to chase glory in AFL Cairns.

Four ex-Hampden league talents - Cobden's Christian Koroneos, Josh Hickey and Sam Giblett and Hamilton Kangaroos' Josh Mawson - are plying their trade at Port Douglas while Koroit's Lachie Rhook and Ben Sinnott are at South Cairns.

Warrnambool and District league duo Caleb Gale (Merrivale) and Tully Allwood (Dennington) are also at South Cairns.

All eight took the field on Saturday as football returned from its COVID-19 hiatus in far north Queensland. The Crocs crushed Cairns City Lions by 78 points while South Cairns defeated Manunda Hawks by the same margin.

Port Douglas president Barry Lea told The Standard the Hampden league players were welcome inclusions. He said the four had settled in well.

Koroneos, Hickey and Giblett flew to Cairns on June 30 while Mawson is in his second season with the Crocs.

"They've settled in beautifully," Lea said.

"They're playing a combination of seniors and reserves. I think it will take another couple of weeks before they're all used to each other.

"Even though we had a win on Saturday I think there still would've been full-back line players who didn't know much about their teammate on the half-back line."

Lea said Port Douglas, a town of just 3500, recruited 16 players prior to the COVID-19 pandemic but had 14 return to their home states.

He said once football was green-lighted to return, a second recruiting campaign helped the club fill out its seniors and reserve sides.

"We're certainly not a normal footy club, but we've been able to have a bit of success," Lea said.

"We've won five of the last six premierships and we've had success with the country boys.

"We've had the boys from Cobden, some guys from Gippsland and boys from Bendigo come up."

Lea said Crocs senior coach Brad Cooper was among the nation's finest outside the AFL system.

He praised Cooper's work in delivering the premierships.

"Brad has a theory that a lot of the hard work is done in that November or December time with your recruiting," Lea said.

"I think he was keeping Telstra in business through last season in making as many phone calls as he does." Lea said the Port Douglas lifestyle was a major selling point for many newcomers at the club.

He said anyone wishing to reach out to the club could make contact through Facebook.

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