TIGERS CLUB NEWS ARCHIVE

TIGERS NEWS May 2006
Wednesday May 10th, 2006

Tigers Steamrolled by Magpies late burst!

The Queanbeyan Tigers drew within 5 points of the Belconnen Magpies at the 5 minute mark of the last quarter in what had been a hard fought contest. The Magpies then slammed on the next 7 goals to take the game right out of the hands of the Tigers and a final score of 17.19 (121) to 11.5 (71).

From the 10 minute mark of the first quarter ¿ by which time the Magpies had 4 goals on the board ¿ until three quarter time the Tigers were the better team. They were accountable, they were tougher at the ball and they were working as a unit. This period was their best team effort for the year.

The majority of the game featured tough physical football in conditions that tested the skills of all involved. Goals were hard to come by for the first three quarters despite the game being relatively fluent.

On the day, the Tigers let themselves down with some forward moves that appeared to just blaze away and end up in the arms of the MagpiesÍ loose roving defender. Free kicks were also a blight on the TigersÍ game, most as a result of undisciplined tackling, but some by confusing umpire decisions at costly times.

The Tigers need to look towards their last quarter performances with more purpose. The solution is not apparent but when the game was there to be won the Magpies picked it up a gear and the Tigers could not reproduce their involvement in the contest that they demonstrated for the first three quarters.

For the Tigers, Roy Jaques had his best game for the Tigers and contributed gallantly for four quarters. His early battle with Steve Mahar saw two quality players fight for control. Jaques continued to control his post through varied opponents. Mahar later spent some time loose in defense and in the ruck as he wasnÍt having his normal impact at centre half forward.

Coach Mark ïMervÍ Armstrong again provided a strong target up forward and ended with 6 for the day. Mitch Daniher was heavily involved throughout and had a running battle with his opposite numbers. His hands were not as sure early on but he quickly got over that problem and played a decisive role especially in the close contests.

Ryan Quade was a reliable target and appears to be warming to the centre half forward role more with each game. He was strong in the air and ended with 10 marks, mostly contested. It was telling that both he and Roy Jaques played out the game in their starting positions. It is unusual to have winners in the two key positions for most of the game and still get steamrolled.

Luke Ellis was all over the ground early in the game. His penetrating kicks and ability to provide a link out of defense was influential.

The Tigers serious injuries woes continued with first gamer, Ian Firns, leaving the field early with what appears to be a depressed cheek bone. Jason Gilbert was also unable to see out the game. GilbertÍs contribution up to this stage showed why Coach Armstrong rushed him back into the team. Fortunately SaturdayÍs injury is not a reoccurrence of his previous one and should not be long term.

The first quarter saw the Magpies, with the aid of a strong wind get away to a four goal lead with two goals each to Brock Weston and Brett Knowles before the Tigers settled down.

As the Tigers began to exert themselves into the contest it was good to see Kris Longmore begin to find the pace of the game. Good lead up play from Ellis, Longmore and Neil Irwin saw Armstrong put on his first two goals for the game.

A full length of the ground play ending in a slick handball from a ground pickup to a running Paul Williams resulted in the TigersÍ third and a 10 point difference at quarter time. Scores were Magpies 4.5 (29) to the Tigers 3.1 (19).

The game had settled and the wind had eased by the start of the second quarter, which was unfortunate for the Tigers. Quade had marked strongly twice towards the end of the quarter, Lieschkie was active and GilbertÍs physical contest had been influential in the tight contests.

Two forward moves in the second quarter for the Tigers ended with poor decision making in the disposal. First gamer James Crosthwaite was getting involved and demonstrating speed of foot and hand.

Armstrong scored two more quick goals, the second following an inspirational chase and good hands by Gilbert and the Tigers hit the front for the first time. The rain settled in and the contest became a tight struggle. A kick off the ground landed in ArmstrongÍs arms for number 5.

With John Elias standing strong in defence along with 150 gamer, Rod Gisik, the Tigers went to half time with a 6.5 (41) to 4.10 (34) lead.

The Magpies hadnÍt scored a goal since early in the first quarter despite plenty of moves into their forward 50 metres. The Tigers defence applied pressure on the Magpies disposals and repelled most others moves forward. A bit more luck and finishing skill would have given the TigersÍ hard working forward line more opportunities.

The previous 40 minutes was by far the best the Tigers had strung together for the year.

At half time Coach Armstrong asked the Tigers to maintain their strong tackling, the pressure and their discipline. He invited more players to get among the goal scorers as to this stage he had 5 out of 6 and the Tigers were appearing too predictable.

This was a very valid point as Armstrong has been the main goal scorer in each game so far and the last thing they need is for their forward line to be too one dimensional. The repercussions donÍt need explaining.

The Magpies scored the first goal of the third quarter through Chad Vince that gave them a one point lead. The Magpies were kicking to the Karabah end which had been the scoring end all day. The wind wasnÍt as strong as earlier in the game but still favored the Magpies.

Both teams scored three more goals for the quarter. Chris York, Josh Jennings and Weston for the Magpies and Lieschke, Armstrong and Mitch Daniher scored for the Tigers. The highlight was a skillful check side kick from Lieschke that sailed truly.

Three quarter time saw the Magpies 5 points up and the Tigers due to come home towards what had been the scoring end all day. Scores were Magpies 8.16 (64) to the Tigers 9.5 (59).

Five minutes into the last quarter had seen a goal to the MagpiesÍ Brendan Read and a clever snap to the TigersÍ Williams and still a 5 point margin.

The Tigers then went on a free kick spree with the Magpies next two goals ¿ to Jarred Ilett and WestonÍs fourth - the result of umpiresÍ decisions. Unfortunately the umpires were having more of an influence on the progress of this contest than their role required.

Two more frees saw Luke Jeffrey run onto a good delivery for his first for the day quickly followed by a discipline lapse by the Tigers and a goal to James Bennett at the 15 minute mark. Suddenly the Tigers were 30 points down.

What followed were the nails in the coffin. Weston ducked across the front of the pack to mark and get number four. Jeffrey scored his second highlighted by an evident lack of talk by the Tigers defence, quickly followed by Knowles for his first since the five minute mark of the first quarter. Suddenly the margin was 49 points.

Quade got one back for the Tigers only to see Vince score his second it what would probably be seen as a small contribution given his pre season hype.

When the siren sounded, the stunned TigersÍ supporters had seen a 5 point margin ballooned to 50 points in roughly 25 minutes as the Magpies piled on 9.3 for the term.

Both Tigers players and supporters were shell shocked and the supporters in the grandstand had been silenced following some earlier optimism. The first three quarters of football was the best the Tigers had produced for 2006 but the last quarter demonstrated that while the policy of bringing on the youth was working, the Tigers still have a bit to do to match it with the top teams.

Coach Merv Armstrong stated that the selection panel is looking at any consistent performers in the two lower grades to move into the senior ranks following on the successful debut games by Brett Ormston and Todd Dickinson. Paul Franchi ¿ once available ¿ and James Crosthwaite are other young 2006 first gamers who have demonstrated the ability to step up to this level. Kris Longmore fits into this category of 10 first gamers the Tigers have given chances this year already.

The Tigers are rebuilding their stocks and have both promising short term and long term prospects.

Reserve Grade

The Tigers Reserve Grade fell off the high they experienced from the previous week on the back of a very mediocre first half to lose to the Belconnen Magpies 11. 20 (86) to 7. 5 (47). Coach James McGinley was livid at half time and called on all players to be much more accountable for their opponent from then on.

The third quarter was much more even and the Tigers launched a strong assault at the start of the last led by Josh Davis (3 goals). All players became more involved and committed to winning the ball but as with the seniors, the Magpies turned up the heat in the latter stages and snuffed out any whiff of a TigersÍ revival.

John Murphy was instrumental on his wing and his growing confidence and fitness was a pleasing feature. Scott Dickinson was heavily involved at ground level and in the air and will have benefited from another solid run.

Jim Neil, in his first game for the year, showed improvement as the game went on. Ross Hore maintained his reliability in leading the backline.

For much of the game, the Magpies ran off their opponent at will. This at times made the Tigers seem much slower than their Magpie opponents. The Tigers were not as committed to win the hard ball as their opponents and the Magpies had much better and more effective clearance strategies from contests.

Under 18 Grade

The Under 18 Grade posted their first victory for the year on the back of an 8 goal first term with a strong wind. The defence respected their forwards by repelling the Magpies attack with the wind to lead the Tigers to a 15. 18 (108) to 6. 2 (38) victory.

Five of the Magpies goals came in the first 5 minutes of the last quarter but the Tigers settled and finished off the game solidly.

Jason Satchell was strong and creative all over the ground. Sam Burley was heavily involved at the bottom of the pack and breaking clean of the contests.

Shaun Ebert was strong across half back and demonstrated good marking skills.

Others to feature strongly were Tyler Stevens, Jared Daniel, Jackson Brooker and Paul Slater.

It was a good game to watch and the score flattered the Tigers which indicates a good performance by the defence that was methodical and clean in their handling and disposals.

The boys now have a bit of time to build on this result, which featured some excellent attacking handball, in preparation for their next encounter with the top teams.