Club Stalwart named Reserve Grade Men's Coach

He is a 4 time Senior Premiership player with over 150 Club Games to his name and now Dean Ross will assist the clubs drive for future success by taking on the important Reserve Grade coaching role in 2023.

Rossy will take over from Tim Hull who will be moving interstate in 2023. The Club can't thank Tim enough for his unwavering support and devotion to the Tigers especially during a tough Covid period. Good luck for the future Hully!

Dean started senior football way back in 2010 which was rocky start for Dean who was trying to push into a Reserves squad let alone push for 1st Grade which at the time was super strong 2s team as they were in the middle of their 3 peat Premiership run (2009/2010/2011).

Dean decided he was over footy in 2011 until a good mate convinced him to play at ANU in 2012. Having fallen back in love with the game and wanting to again test himself at a higher level, Dean returned to the tigers in 2013 and the rest is history.

His leadership and experience with how to push and strive for that senior position will certainly assist the transition and expectations of players knowing he has been there and done that.

Dean himself will still be pushing to play 1st Grade in 2023 and he will be setting up a coaching team around him to make sure all the players are well supported. Dean's devotion to his mates & want to be the best he can be will certainly drive the group and will provide even greater depth for the club.

The Bull continues to set the standards for the younger players to aspire to play 1st Grade footy while hopefully gaining some more success for his beloved Tigers.

Congratulations Bull!

Tigers Create History!

It will be a Saturday afternoon remembered for many years as the Queanbeyan Tigers took home the double and created a special piece of AFL Canberra History!

A huge crowd witnessed a footy club in full flight last Saturday as both Tigers 1st Grade Teams took to the field in this years AFL Canberra Grand Finals at EPC Park in perfect conditions.

It was the men who started the day and wow did they start well! A brilliant combination of skill and execution saw the Tigers out to a big lead at quarter time albeit it should've been bigger kicking 4.8 to 1 goal.

Above: The club sent off two club legends with Toby Conroy & Will Griggs hanging up the boots.

Bryce, Pollock, Highfield and Ross were standouts early as the teams structure stood up to the pressures of a first qtr in a Grand Final while the defense pushed back anything the Pies could throw at them.

Then a massive switch in momentum occurred halfway through the 2nd as Belconnen started to run through the lines and began to peg back the lead over the next two quarters to eventually go into the last holding a 1 point advantage.

Unfortunately the Tigers couldn't hold the Pies charge during this period and the 3qtr time break couldn't come at a better time which allowed the group to regroup and assess how they could get themselves back into the contest.

The biggest shift with this group over the past three years has been their resilience and knowing they had the fitness to finish off close games and thankfully this was the major factor in the Tigers forcing their way to the lead and hold on in the dying seconds.

Talk about nail bitter, stoppage after stoppage in the last 5 minutes with the Pies having a couple of chances to steal the win but not for the dour defense of the tigers. A break from a contest and with Alex Page running into an open goal from 50, the siren sounded and the Tigers claimed Back to Back Premierships.

A wonderful effort and achievement by the group and continues the recent success of the team which can hopefully continue in 2023!

Grand Final - Men’s 1st Grade

Queanbeyan 7.12-54 def Belconnen 7.8-50

QBN Goals:

Andrew Swan 2, Josh Bryce 2, Kade Klemke 2, Jack Nunn.

QBN Best:

Rhys Pollock, Dean Ross, Lachlan Highfield, Dean Simpson, Aidan Bowyer, Toby Conroy.

As the champagne flowed post the men's win, it was our girls who then took centre stage trying to deny Ainslie the perfect season while themselves turning around the 2020 Grand Final loss where they were also undefeated that year.

The Tigerettes were the only side to challenge the Tri Colours in 2022 and with the team in excellent late season form the start was critical if they were to challenge for the title.

And start well they did kicking out to an impressive lead into the wind with Ruby Grounds stunning the crowd with two absolute gems from the boundary line. Ainslie as they have done all year quickly responded but you could tell that this was a different Tigerettes to previous meetings.

The game ebbed and flowed for the next two quarters and like the men's game, the Tigers were down by a 1 point heading into the last. Some stern inspirational words from Coach Clifton who was in his last game for the club set the line in the sand for the girls to follow.

The retiring Tigerette Legend Ella Shea grabbed her teammates, threw them on her shoulders and said follow me girls we aren't losing this one! And follow they did with every player going up a level and it was fitting to see Ella kick the winning goal to seal the victory.

Above: Not a bad way to finish your career Ella Shea - Best on Ground & Premiership.

It was a slow build for the Tigerettes in 2022 but didn't they time it to perfection and wipe away the tears from 2 years ago in style. It is now 5 First Grade Grand Finals in a row with 3 Flags for this group and it hasn't always been sunshine and roses along the way either with rebuilds etc. But it does show the Tigers Programs are still working well and it will keep developing further as we get the next group ready for 2023!

It was also a fitting end to the man at the helm for the past 4 years Cliffo, what way to go out and leave a lasting legacy!

Grand Final - Women’s 1st Grade

Queanbeyan 6.4-40 def Ainslie 5.5-35

QBN Goals:

Ruby Grounds 2, Sophia Arcus 2, Kate Woodward, Ella Shea.

QBN Best:

Ella Shea, Jayde Hamilton, Elisha Gallagher, Clare Lawton, Jessica Stramandinoli,

Kate Woodward.

There are more photos on our Facebook Page:

Queanbeyan Tigers Australian Football Club | Facebook

1st Grade Squads look to add to the Silverware Cabinet

2022 GRAND FINAL PREVIEW

This Saturday the Tigerettes play in their 5th 1st Grade Grand Final in a row while the Men will be looking at trying to go Back to Back for the 1st time in 22 years albeit with a Covid cancelled 2021 season in between.

It has been an extremely successful period for the Tigers First Grade squads over recent years and they hope to create some more history and add silverware to the coffers this Saturday.

The Tigerettes record has been impressive with appearances in the 2017 (Premiers), 2018, 2019 (Premiers), 2020, sitting 2nd in 2021 when season was cancelled and now the 2022 Grand Finals.

Our men are themselves in a rich vein of performances with a Premiership in 2020 then Minor Premiers in 2021 when the season was cancelled and like the women are into the 2022 decider.

This year has been by far the most challenging during the COVID era with multiple players coming through both squads due to illness, super flu's, Covid, injury and unavailability due to everyone catching up on weddings etc.

So to be sitting here today and preparing for two Grand Final Teams to take the field is a credit to all involved and we extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to all of our players, coaches, support staff and volunteers on a job well done.

To all of our Partners from all levels with a special call out to our Principal Partner Aulich, Major Community Partner CDC Centres, Major Financial Partner The Tigers Club and Major Corporate Partners NRMA, ActewAGL, Benmax, Belle Property,

Aston Financial and Renrow Steel

THANK YOU!

Our success is your success as we couldn't do what we do without YOU!

So let's preview the big games set for Saturday!

Men's 1st Grade vs. Belconnen @ EPC Solar Park at 2.00pm

Previous Meetings in 2022:

Round 3 - Tigers 16.13-109 def Belconnen 7.6-48

Round 8 - Tigers 13.10.88 def Belconnen 10.6-66

Round 12 - Belconnen 12.9-81 def Tigers 11.11-77

Qualifying Final - Tigers 11.6-72 def Belconnen 8.6-54

The best two teams for 2022 go head to head in the big one Saturday with the Magpies steeling themselves and bouncing back to defeat Ainslie in the Preliminary Final last week.

Belconnen are the only side to defeat the Tigers in 2022 when they shot out to a 40 point lead in round 12 to then hold off a fast finishing tigers in the last quarter. The Pies are strong across all lines led by Coach James Bennett who continues to play great footy.

Thomas Simpson, 2022 Mulrooney Medalist Luke Wharton and Mackinley Miller have been the other Pies players to stand out and will need to be watched this weekend.

It promises to be a cracking game with the mid fields having a big say on who will come out on top by 4.30pm and with both teams getting a host of top line players back from injury, strap in people and enjoy the ride!

Tiger Players to watch:

Aidan Bowyer - The standout big man of the competition in 2022 who has had a massive presence for the tigers since game 1. Athletically Aido has the engine to ruck all day and even plays as a 4th mid fielder at times which makes him very dangerous on the big ground.

Rhys Pollock - All class is this player and since his move into the centre has taken his game to another level. Clever around the packs who can still drive forward and kick goals which almost makes him the complete player. Like Aidan, an outstanding season which he hopes to cap off with a 2nd Premiership medal.

Dean Simpson - A very quite defender that you want to go to war with as he has always got you covered with his 3rd man up marking and spread from defence. A TOTY award in 2022 has finally shown the footy world in Canberra how important this guy is to the tigers structures.

Women's 1st Grade vs. Ainslie @ EPC Solar Park at 5.00pm

Previous Meetings in 2022:

Round 3 - Ainslie 6.9-45 def Tigers 2.2-14

Round 8 - Ainslie 6.7-43 def Tigers 3.4-22

Round 12 - Ainslie 5.6-36 def Tigers 4.2-26

Ainslie women's have been all conquering in season 2022 having gone through the Home & Away undefeated. But there has been one team that continued to push the Tri Colours in 2022 and they were the Tigers.

As the previous scorelines between the two teams show, the Tigers have closed the gap on Ainslie every game with the last two encounters seeing Ainslie having to play a big last quarter to get the chocolates.

Ainslie has great depth with Rachel Friend and former Belconnen Magpie Maggie Gorham leading a very potent forward line while Ellie Bishop and Georgie Jaques controlling the middle of the ground.

The Tigerettes have been doing the slow build in 2022 and the last month has shown why they are still one of the top teams in the competition with big wins in both finals that has opened up the chance to take on Ainslie once again.

Grand Final experience could play a part this Saturday with many of the Tigerettes having been involved in the past 4 deciders while Ainslie haven't played in a Grand Final since 2010, so could this be a factor?

Like the men's game, this will be a belter of a game so sit back and enjoy the show!

Tiger Players to watch:

Ruby Grounds - The former Melbourne Uni captain has shown her class in 2022 with a great season up forward however it has been her finals series that has taken her game to another level. Big marking small forward will need to clunk a few Saturday to get the team driving forward.

Maya Suzuki - The surprise packet of 2022 with her speed and tackling being second to none. Her first year at the Tigerettes and is now the first picked every week as that reliable defender who never says die. Will need to play well again to stop the powerful Ainslie forward line and one thing is for sure they wont out run her!

Jayde Hamilton - A sensational 2022 from Jayde who has taken her leadership to all new levels this year. We all know this kid is a gun but to see her now dragging players on her back and saying come with me has been awesome to see. If anyone is going to set the tone this weekend it will be Jayde Hamilton.