NEWS & BLOG | Queanbeyan Tigers Australian Football Club

General Manager
- Sep 20
- 4 min read

A 100th Birthday we will not forget!

Three Senior Premierships Cap Off a Remarkable Year!

What an incredible morning, afternoon and night at the AFL Canberra Grand Finals last Saturday as the Tigers completed probably one of their most successful seasons in recent memory with 3 Premierships to cap of a wonderful 100th year!

A massive turnout of Tigers supporters was on hand to cheer on the teams as the day started at 9am with the Women's Reserves, followed by the Women's 1sts at 11.15am then concluded 3hrs later when the Tigers Men's 1st Grade ran out at 3.55pm.

All three coming away with impressive Grand Final Victories!

Records were broken with the Tigers victories in the 1st Grade Men & Women, they once again have won the titles in the same year for a 2nd time (2022/2024) and still the only club to achieve this feat!

While the women’s program created history by becoming the first ever 1st & Reserve Grade Women's teams to go through the year Undefeated in the same season. Both grades with a combined 31 wins / 0 losses in 2024.

Women's Reserves Undefeated Minor Premiers & Premiers

Reserve Grade Women 8.9-57 def Ainslie 3.2-20

Best on Ground - Brooke James.

A blistering start seen the girls get out to a 21 - 0 lead at quarter time and were never headed from there. Led by Jill Shea with 4 goals, the forward line clicked with the delivery from the midfield being 1st class. Brooke James also had a day out collecting possessions at will across half forward while Rachel Salmond, Natasha Brockwell and Sophia Molinaro-Lawrence giving their teammates plenty of the ball.

The backline held up well with veterans Lon Flakelar and Aleisha Tupper holding strong and allowing Emma Croker and Julie Stabler (when not in the ruck) to run and create. A wonderful effort by this group who showed loyalty to continue with the club post last year's disappointment and we are thrilled they got what they deserved.

Women's 1st Grade Undefeated Minor Premiers & Premiers

1st Grade Women 7.7-49 def 2.4-16

Best on Ground - Jayde Hamilton

What a remarkable season for the 1s as they turned a disappointing exit in last year's preliminary final into an unbeaten 2024! A season that didn't always go their way, but this resilient group kept finding ways to win from any position - Fight.

An influx of some quality people and a mix of experienced and young players added depth to the 2024 list led by skipper Jayde Hamilton who was everywhere Saturday as well as Anita Manning who tackled everything, Emma Dunn who had a breakout season and many many others who all played their role.

As per the 2024 script, the team didn't have it all their own way with Belconnen cracking in and putting pressure on the tigers but as has been their strength all season the 2nd half proved the difference with the girls pulling away with their fitness and game style which was capped off by a stunning Jess Stramandinoli goal from the boundary that sealed the win.

Full credit to the entire 57 players that represented the Women's Program this year and while a cliche - it really does take a full squad of players and effort to win Premierships so well done to all.

Men's 1st Grade Minor Premiers & Premiers

1st Grade Men 11.8-74 def Eastlake 9.5-59

Alex Jesaulenko Medal - Will Kellar

The Tigers 1st Grade men have a history of players rising to the occasion on the big stage and on Saturday this was the case again as Cometh the hour Cometh the man with Will Kellar forging his name into Tigers history by winning the Alex Jesaulenko Medal in a second half performance we won't forget.

Kellar had the ball on a string as he kicked 4 goals and had 4 score assists in one of the most dominant small forward displays since Alex Page kicked a bicycle kick goal in the 2015 decider! Not to be outdone and confirming what a big game player he is, the front and centre goal Alex kicked late in the last quarter was well worth admission and sealed the flag.

It was a real tussle, but the tigers came back from a 21-point halftime deficit to storm home late in the last to secure their 3rd Premiership in 4 years. Led by skipper Aidan Bowyer, Anthony LoPilato and Lachie Highfield, the tigers stayed in game when things weren't tracking well just enough to give them a sniff.

Once the tide turned players such as Jack Nunn, Campbell Lovell, Will Taylor and really most of the team began to believe and has been this team's reputation over the past few years if you don't put them away look out.

Like the girl's program, this Men's Flag has come from so many players hard work with 46 players representing the team throughout the 2024 season.

Finally, to our wonderful Partners, Players, Sports Trainers, Volunteers, Coaches, Support Staff, Board and our Tigers Army - THANK YOU!

"What a Year" - None of this would have been possible without you all and this season will go down as one of the best!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL! What a 💯 Year Celebration it has been! 🏆🏆🏆🐯

Bring on our 101st Year!

Other AFL Canberra Awards in 2024

3 x League Best & Fairest
3 x Second Places
2 x League Leading Goal Kickers
2 x Coach of the Year Awards
Multiple players in the Teams of the Year
2024 Club Champions! 🥳🙌🏻🫶🐯

General Manager
- Sep 10
- 5 min read

Can an Amazing 100th Year be Capped off with Premiership Glory? Your 2024 AFL Canberra Grand Final Preview!

3 Tigers Grades to fight for the 2024 Premiership Title!

Tim Clowry creates history!

Tim Clowry will become the 100th player to have played 100 1st Grade games in our 100th Year when he takes the field this Saturday at Football Park in this year's AFL Canberra Men’s 1st Grade Grand Final.

Tim has also been wearing Jumper #100 this year!

A fantastic achievement for one of the most popular players at the Club and comes after a break from footy last year when living in Sydney.

He rejoined the Tigers this year with the knowledge of his 100th 1st Grade game being just nine games away, but his hopes of achieving that milestone became problematic with injuries keeping him sidelined until round nine.

He hasn’t missed a 1st Grade match since and has been an integral part of the Tigers lineup as it has progressed through to its 33rd Men’s 1st Grade Grand Final since 1925.

The game commences at 3.55pm with the Tigerettes 1st and Reserve Grade teams also featuring on the day, the Reserves commencing at 9.00am and the Tigerettes 1st Grade at 11.15am

A supporter's tent / area will be available. There will be a break of approx. 2 1/2 hours between the two 1st Grade games to accommodate the AFL Canberra Men’s Reserve Grade GF being played between Ainslie and Eastlake. Supporters could take advantage of the Hellenic Clubs hospitality during this time which is adjacent to Football Park - The Hellenic Club being one of our Major Partners in 2024.

We then head back to the Tigers Club post 1st grade for the start of the End of Season celebrations - Win or Lose.

GRAND FINAL PREVIEW - Women's Reserves vs. Ainslie.

The Tigers Reserves Women have had an outstanding season with Coach Andrew Harvey guiding a mix of new and experienced players to the Grand Final for the 2nd consecutive year.

Unfortunately, in 2023, the team was stripped of playing in the decider due to an administration error, however the girls took on that disappointment and stuck fat with the club and coaches and have worked really hard to give themselves another opportunity.

Currently yet to be defeated, the Tigers have gone from strength to strength with the efforts of players such as Julie Stabler, Brooke James, Sophia Molinaro and the evergreen Lon Flakelar. Added to these players has been the goal kicking power of the tiger's girls who hold the Top 4 in the league goal kicking.

Claire O'Neill, Jill Shea, Brooke James (again) and Mindy Quade have shown great form all year and this weekend will be pivotal if the 2s are to get the job done. The defending Premiers Ainslie await our girls, and they will not give up their title easily that is for sure, although the Tigers have had their measure in 2024.

This will be a belter and if the Tigers can start well, I think they get the job done, game starts at 9.00am.

Head-to-Head 2024

Rnd 1 - QBN 3.1-19 def AFC 1.2-8

Rnd 6 - QBN 5.10-40 def AFC 0.1-1

Rnd 10 - QBN 11.7-73 def AFC 1.1-7

QF - QBN 6.12-48 def AFC 0.0-0

GRAND FINAL PREVIEW - Women's 1st Grade vs. Belconnen.

They say a year is a long time in football, well the 1st Grade Women's team have lived this in spades. Coming out of the successful Chris Clifton era that yielded 2 premierships in 4 years, the girls had a rebuilding year in 2023 and managed a 9-6 win/loss record eventually bowing out in the 2023 Preliminary Final by 33pts.

Fast forward 12 months, a big preseason, addition of 5 new players and the steady belief and improvement of basically the same group and the girls find themselves back in the Grand Final - the tigers girls 6th Grand Final appearance in the last 7yrs. (not counting the cancelled 2021 covid season)

The improvement is full credit to all involved as the girls have worked their backsides off and led by the entire group. Anita Manning has really stood up in 2024 in the absence of skipper Jayde Hamilton who missed the first 8 games coming back from injury and added to the improvement has been the injection of former VFLW players Trish Muller and Grace Buchan.

On top of the above has been the scope of improvement in the current list has been huge with Madi Lustri taking her game to new levels, youngsters Em Vosnakes, Maggie Robinson and Mia Jones developing their games while Emma Dunn, Phoebe Highfield and newcomer Montana Dove all having big impacts in 2024.

They come up against another powerhouse club in Belconnen who played in the 2023 decider so they will have the experience of being there recently and are always tough opposition.

These two teams match up well on each other and it'll be the team that settles the quickest that should grab the title in 2024, game starts at 11.55am.

Head-to-Head 2024

Rnd 4 - QBN 5.4-34 def BMFC 4.4-28

Rnd 9 - QBN 9.9-63 def BMFC 0.4-4

Rnd 13 - QBN 5.13-43 def BMFC 1.4-10

QF - QBN 6.5-41 def BMFC 3.4-22

GRAND FINAL PREVIEW - Men's 1st Grade vs. Eastlake.

THE CLASH OF THE YEAR!

The build up to this game started way back in February when both clubs seen a host of players come to their respective clubs over the preseason.

The Tigers had an influx of returning premiership stars post their foray to the country all wanting to be part of the 100yr celebrations while Eastlake under a new coach recruited heavily also bring some former players back to their club.

This year's AFL Canberra men's comp has been the closest for many a year with anyone in the Top 4 a chance to upset the other on a given weekend so picking a winner this Saturday will again be a toss of the coin.

What the Tigers can rely on is they have a huge amount of experience with players that have been on the big stage before over the last 4 years and know how to get the job done. This will be led by the big guns in Swan, LoPilato, Pollock, Collins and Bowyer not to mention the countless other big game players in Highfield, Bryce, Lovell and Nunn to name a few more.

The tigers are well balanced and complement each other and it will be these connections that the tigers hope will get them home in what will be a tough and tight contest. The 1st Grade game starts at 3.55am.