Bowyer wins Muir Medal - Page Celebrates!

Aidan Bowyer has capped of his great start to 2022 by becoming the latest Queanbeyan

player to win the prestigious Muir Medal following the Tigers 1st Grade Men's comeback win over Ainslie.

Aidan's winning of the medal now has the tally at 10 Queanbeyan Muir Medalists to Ainslie's at 9 since the Muir Medal began in 2006 with dual winners in 2008 & 2015.

Queanbeyan's Andrew Swan is the only multiple winner of the Muir Medal, taking home the award in 2010 and 2016.

It was great to see Ian, Alison, Susan and extended members of the Muir family attend the day along with over 30 Tigers past players that were attending our Past Players Function that all knew and loved the great man Alan.

Page celebrates 100th with a big win!

1st Grade Men

Queanbeyan 10.9-69 def Ainslie 8.7-55

QBN Goals: Kade Klemke 2, Michael McCormack 2, Rhys Pollock, Alex Page, Joshua Bryce, Aidan Bowyer, Andrew Swan, Ryan Price.

QBN Best: Aidan Bowyer, Michael Evans, Jonathon Bowyer, Jack Nunn, Isaac Edgar, Toby Conroy.

In the Top of the Table clash, Ainslie came out all guns blazing to hold the Tigers goalless in the 1st quarter. Their attack on the contest put the tigers on the back foot and allowed the Tri colours the space to advance the play at will.

With Both sides missing key players for the game, it was Ainslie who settled the best and built a strong lead at qtr time. It was only a late flurry towards the end of the 2nd qtr that brought the tigers within 11 points by half time.

A few key words and positional changes at half time worked with the tigers banging on

5.3 to 2.3 in the 3rd quarter to take a 7 point lead into the last quarter. The difference in the 3rd being the Tigers going back to the game plan that serves them well and every player improving by 2 to 3% that added heaps of pressure on Ainslie's defence.

The last qtr was epic with both sides trading goals with the old boys in the growlers loving the contest and becoming very vocal to get the tigers home against our old foes. In the end the tigers prevailed however this battle isn't over and more great games between the two clubs in 2022 is certainly on the cards.

Along with Aidan Bowyer, cousin Jonno also played a great game along with Toby Conroy who is still getting it done, Mick Evans who continues to impress and Jack Nunn who is settling in very well.

1st Grade Women

Queanbeyan 2.2-14 def by Ainslie 6.9-45

QBN Goals: Elizabeth Wilson, Kate Woodward.

QBN Best: Madelyne Czubara, Elizabeth Wilson, Madison Lustri, Rachel Salmond, Lauren Flakelar, Kate Woodward

Still well under strength, the Tigerettes showed great passion and want for the contest and held the lead at halftime.

The ladder leaders Ainslie who have taken all before them in 2022 didn't expect the pressure that was coming for them early in the game. Despite the great start the Tigerettes couldn't maintain the rage in the 2nd half.

Ainslie stepped up post halftime and while the tigerettes kept throwing everything at the Tri Colours, every time the tigers made a charge Ainslie would answer with a much needed goal.

What the contest did show was that our girls aren't far off the pace and when the tables turn with injury and illness we should be right in there for a crack at the title.

Madelyne Czubara, Elizabeth Wilson and Madison Lustri all played solid games while Kate Woodward continues her strong 2021 form into 2022.

Reserve Grade Men

Queanbeyan 4.1-25 def by Ainslie 11.8-74

QBN Goals: Jordan Lopes 2, Wilson Morshead, Tyler Van Luin.

QBN Best: Daniel Potts, Dean Ross, Tyler Van Luin, Owen Quantrill, Wilson Morshead, Will Taylor

A familiar outcome for the men's 2s last weekend with injury and illness affecting the balance of the team and disrupting preparations only hours from the game.

However this group continues to show up and represent the club with pride and like the women's program once numbers start to improve you can bet they will be there when the whips are cracking.

How can we say this? Trust me when I say these blokes are cracking in!

It is simple, score lines don't always tell the true story of a match, only 14 points behind at half time this group just simply ran out of troops. But their hardness for the contest and discipline to the structures despite all the changes shows everyone that this team will get it right.

2021 Best & Fairest Wilson Morshead continues to lead by example while Daniel Potts and Will Taylor played extremely well in the defeat. Great to see our Rising Stars step up again and help out with Owen Quantrill playing a ripping game in defence.

Reserve Grade Women

Queanbeyan 0.0-0 def by Batemans Bay 10.21-81

QBN Goals:

QBN Best: Sophie Jensen, Maddi McLachlan, Natasha Brockwell, Lauren Drockman, Bree Jackson, Jade Giacoppo

I sound like a broken record at the moment but no one truly knows how tough the first few weeks have been on our coaches and players with injury, illness and unavailability.

But as a club we couldn't be prouder of the way our players continually step up for the club, case in point and to reinforce the above efforts of our men's reserves was what our Reserves Tigerettes did last Saturday!

Only 15 girls were available for last weeks game and unlike other clubs who would've forfeited, our girls said no way, we will honour our commitment and not let the tigers, Batemans Bay or the competition down!

The club and coaches are in full admiration for what the girls did last weekend and to use the words of Coach Kenny "The girls who were available turned up and showed desire, determination and passion for each other, I couldn't be prouder of what they did".

Sophie Jensen continues her great start to the year and being her first season has shown great leadership while Maddi McLachlan, Lauren Drockman, Bree Jackson and Jade Giacoppo continue to play well and be the mainstays of the group.

It was also great to see Tarsh Brockwell back in tigers colours and to every player who played last Saturday - awesome effort and thank you.

Drop A Bundle Race Night

Finally our players, coaches and volunteers got to let their hair down last Saturday night for the Annual Drop A Bundle Race Night.

Over 120 people packed in to see who would take out this years 2022 Black & Gold Cup eventually run and won by Snakey Dave!

A huge thanks to the Tigers Social Committee led by Alec McCormick and Monica McGrath for putting it all together, the Googong Hogs who joined us for the event and it was great to catch up and the Tigers Club for hosting us and being exceptional hosts.

Muir Medal Round / Alex Page to become 96th 100 Club Member

It is the Annual Muir Medal Round this Saturday @ Aulich Park and will mark a special

day for local junior Alex Page who will become the 96th Full Member of the 100 Club.

The Muir Medal

The Muir Medal was introduced in 2006 following the passing of Tigers Legend Alan Muir.

The Medal recognises the significant contribution of Alan to the Queanbeyan Tigers and his son Ian to the Ainslie Football Club.

They along with The Bennett family (Belconnen) - are the only other father/son combination to have played 200 First Grade games, albeit for different clubs.

Alan provided over 60 years’ service to the Tigers organisation as a player/official and passionate supporter. His legacy is now recognised by all players with his “Eat Em Alive” signature.

Son Ian continues to provide service to the Ainslie Football Club.

Alan Muir #7

LEGEND #2 Wall of Fame Induction - 1987

Alan was the Clubs record 1st grade games record holder for 31 years with a total of 225 games. He commenced playing in 1947 and played in 3 successive Intermediate Premiership teams – 1947 to 1949 before graduating into the Tigers senior grade teams.

In addition to playing in six grand finals including the 1953, 1954 and 1956 First Grade Premiership teams he represented the ACT for over a decade.

He held many positions as a club official over 60 years including the following:

• President 1951

• Secretary 1959 – 1961

• Senior Vice President – 1981

• Publicity Officer – 1950, 1957 – 1961, 1984 – 2002

• Member of Building Committee (Tigers Club) – 1978 – 1980

• ACTAFL, AFL Canberra Tribunal Delegate – 1985 – 2002

His long association with Australian Football in Canberra and QBN Tigers Club has been recognised by the following:

• Tigers 100 Club – 1982

• ACTAFL 200 Club – 1982

• QTAFL Life Membership – 1985

• QTAFC Merit Award – 1987

• Tigers Wall of Fame – 1987

• ACTAFL Media Award – 1999

• Australian Sports Medal – 2000

• ACT Sports Hall of Fame – 2000

• Tigers Under 18 Grade B & F became known as the Alan Muir Medal – 2001

• Recognition for Years’ Service from the AFL – 2002

• Elevated to LEGEND Status at the 90th Year Dinner in 2014.

Alan Muir was a gentleman in the true sense of the word; a loyal club-person and devoted football follower. His vast knowledge of our great game and that of the Tigers Club was unsurpassed. His untimely passing in 2006 robbed the Tigers Club of its past.

The Muir Medal is played for once a year, at alternate grounds.

Muir Medal recipients:

2006 Stafford Cooper (Ainslie)

2007 Bill Neely (Ainslie)

2008 Danny Jacques (Queanbeyan), Andrew Lieschke (Queanbeyan)

2009 Jordan Longmore (Queanbeyan)

2010 Andrew Swan (Queanbeyan)

2011 John Holmes (Ainslie)

2012 Will Griggs (Queanbeyan)

2013 Simon Horner (Ainslie)

2014 Ash Harris (Ainslie)

2015 Brett Fruend (Queanbeyan), Lucas O’Neill (Ainslie)

2016 Andrew Swan (Queanbeyan)

2017 Daniel Ledda (Ainslie)

2018 Aaron Wiles (Ainslie)

2019 Frazer Hawkins (Ainslie)

2020 Toby Conroy (Queanbeyan)

2021 Sam Jensen (Queanbeyan)

Ian will be presenting the medal to the best on ground on the day and his sisters Alison and Susan will also be in attendance representing the family on the day.

Alex Page - 96th Full Member of the Tigers 100 Club

Also on Saturday we have another player who will reach the magical 100th First Grade game thus becoming the 96th Full Member overall.

The club congratulates Alex Page on his wonderful achievement with Alex being another local junior to have come through the ranks to reach this magical milestone!

A crafty and at times sneaky goal kicking forward has and continues to break games apart with his unique skill and both sides of the body kicking, Alex's prowess will be remembered best for those who seen his bicycle kick in the 2015 First Grade Grand Final.

Mixed day for Tigers - Round 4 Review!

A inch of rain fell heavily on Aulich Park early Saturday morning before our clash against

the Demon's which meant the ground would be very soggy for the 4 games to played.

This didn't deter the teams with some quality football played by both clubs with the honours shared by the close of play, the Demon's winning the Men Reserve's and Women's 1st Grade and the Tigers taking out the RS and Men's 1st Grade.

The Tigers needed the day on the positive side of the ledger when our Women's Reserves defeated Belconnen earlier in the day thus giving the tigers 3 wins from 5.

Rising Stars

Queanbeyan 9.15-69 def Eastlake 6.6-42

QBN Goals: Will Kellar 5, Koby Gibbs, Elijah Brennan, Scott Lee, Beau Marmont

QBN Best: Will Kellar, Caden Spinks, Michael Armstrong, Jordan Bogie, Max Banic, Owen Quantrill.

A 5 goal performance from our Pambula Flyer Will Kellar set up a great win for the Rising Stars lads.

It was a tight contest all day with both sides trading blows until the young cubs broke clear in the last kicking 3 goals to 1. This years competition looks set to be a beauty with all 7 teams being very competitive and no clear stand out as yet.

Michael Armstrong had one of his best games for the club while Caden Spinks showed last weeks senior debut did him the world of good. Max Banic and Jordan Bogie also produced solid efforts while skipper and ever reliable Owen Quantrill led the way.

Reserve Grade Women

Queanbeyan 2.3-15 def Belconnen 0.5-5

QBN Goals: Brooke Jennings, Zalie Betts

QBN Best: Susie Armistead, Hollie Betts, Sophie Jensen, Bree Jackson, Zoya Carl, Lauren Drockman

An unbelievable effort by this team having been decimated with numbers for the first 4 rounds and yet they still rock up and give their all.

The win on Saturday was just reward for the girls who week in week out put in for each other and the club. It also showed that when this group manage to get full numbers they will be a huge threat to the top teams and can contend for the 2022 title.

Veteran Susie Armistead led the way with another inspiring game and along with Hollie Betts and Bree Jackson proved the difference in the win. Zoya Carl, Sophie Jensen & Lauren Drockman also played very well.

1st Grade Men

Queanbeyan 14.11-95 def Eastlake 3.6-24

QBN Goals: Kade Klemke 6, Rhys Pollock 4, Alex Page 2, Joshua Bryce, Alessandro Sergi

QBN Best: Kade Klemke, Rhys Pollock, Michael Evans, Dean Simpson, Will Griggs, Dayne Posthuma

There is one thing for certain right now and that is the Men's Selectors shouldn't name a team until an hour before the game!

For the 3rd consecutive week, mass changes were forced at the 11th hour due to illness and injury which switched the squad right around only an hour before the game. But like the previous rounds the club's depth stood up and the squad had another good win.

Co-Coach Kade Klemke was switched forward which reaped great rewards with 6 goals while Rhys Pollock continues his fine start to 2022 with 4 of his own. Alex Page backed up last weeks standout game with another big effort which capped off his 100th Club game perfectly.

Michael Evans, Will Griggs and Dean Simpson were among the best as well with all players coming from the backline unit. Congratulations to Caden Spinks (round 3) and Dayne Posthuma (this week) who both made the Senior Debut's from the Rising Stars.

1st Grade Women

Queanbeyan 2.5-17 def by Eastlake 5.3-33

QBN Goals: Madi Czubara, Sophia Arcus

QBN Best: Anita Manning, Madi Czubara, Kate Woodward, Lauren Flakelar, Kate McGrath, Sidonie Carroll.

Article by Karl Anstey

It is a great joy to be back at Aulich Park!

The playing field was very wet, with the water having not fully evaporated and the ground well worn by the days’ games. The focus of the team is building and learning and despite their defeat to day at the hands of Eastlake and Belconnen before that the Tigers have learned an important lesson.

One that cannot be taught in training or by theory; action is the only way to teach attrition.

The first quarter started off aggressively. Hard, gritty action which saw the ball get passed from one end of the field to the other. Eastlake was first on the board with a goal.

The second quarter was more of the same. The attrition of play has churned up the soft ground, by the end of the game you could tell where the most action happened by looking at the clumps.

Both sides by this stage became bogged down in a nasty ground war, both sides pushing each other, vying for control of the ball and the field from one another, like boxers in the ring.

Maintaining strength and endurance is only half of the battle when it comes to a fight like attrition. Hope, courage and determination.

I saw in the change rooms during half time not a team that was being beaten, but a team that was determined. What was happening on the field was them giving it their all and when the Tigers went back on to the field playing two more quarters of great football I saw courage.

All the players have hope. It may not have seemed like it, but it was there. A powerful triumvirate that can overcome the setbacks and succeed on the long term.

It was in the fourth quarter where the girls did turn it around, yes, yes they still lost, but they connected, they played with fluid and motion, the ball was on the move from Tiger to Tiger. Intercepted but at that moment of play. That was the hope and that is where the Tigers will be in future.

The Ainslie Tricolours are up next week, and we all know that they will show us no quarter however we will learn, and we will be successful as a group.

Reserve Grade Men

Queanbeyan 5.10-40 def by Eastlake 6.16-52

QBN Goals: Kyle Bray, Aiden McShane, Isaac Edgar, Michael McCormack, Will Taylor

QBN Best: Isaac Edgar, Jack Carroll-Tape, Kyle Bray, Michael McCormack, Tyler Van Liun, James Bolton

Reserves Coach Tim Hull couldn't have prouder of the 2s squad last weekend despite the loss.

Everything that effects the 1st Grade in terms of numbers is ten fold for the 2s with multiple changes and unavailability crippling the team at present.

However, this group showed up Saturday with a fantastic resolve and with only 8 minutes to go could have snatched a memorable win but it wasn't to be. Isaac Edgar returned from his honeymoon and starred while Jack Carroll-Tape played his first game in 2022 and looks like he's lost nothing.

Kyle Bray continues to press for another crack at 1st Grade along with Michael McCormack and James Bolton continues to impress selectors.