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Coach Armstrong addressing the Troops.
FIRST GRADE
Our trip to ANZ Stadium ended with a lesson in skill, speed, accuracy and a score line no club wants to travel back home with. It was a 22 goal deficit at the end of play – but – (and there is always a positive) the Tigers played well enough to suggest all is not lost.
The Swans were far too superior on the day and with the advantage of having a quality group of top up players from State level, they produced a brand of football that will be hard to beat come finals time by any team in the AFL Canberra competition.
The writing was on the scoreboard by quarter time with a ten goal quarter to the home team. In an all too familiar pattern – the longer each quarter goes – the more the score line blows out. Superior fitness is the most obvious reason. They are professional footballers and are relentless in their ambitions of securing a senior grade spot at the top level.
The Tigers produced some strong passages of play which give reason they can still impact on the competition this year. It was only three years ago that the Swans kicked 30. 11 (191) to the Tigers 10.1 (61) at the SCG that kicked started the Tigers into wining 6 of their next 7 matches and eventually a Grand Final berth against that very team.
The obvious highlight last Saturday evening was the inclusion of 15 year old Sam Jensen into the Tigers senior line-up. It was a fantastic occasion for the youngster playing at ANZ for his first senior game and then posting a goal with his first kick at that level. The excitement of his fellow team mates and the supporters in the vast arena was a sporting moment for all to witness.
The inform James Kavanagh provided plenty of forward movement with Toby Conroy gaining many possessions in a quality performance. Jason Satchell made a welcome return to the field after a long term injury.
Physio Danny Rutten has been a massive gain to the club.
The Tigers now have an all important match this Saturday at Manuka Oval against 5th placed Eastlake. A loss will draw the Demons level on points and with a stronger percentage take them into 4th position. A win for the Tigers will move them two games clear in the four with 7 games remaining.
SYDNEY SWANS 10 3 16 5 23 9 30 14 (194) QUEANBEYAN 3 2 5 4 7 9 8 14 (62)SYDNEY SWANS Goal Kickers: T. DENNIS-LANE 7, H. PLAYFAIR 5, E. KRUGER 4, N. GORDON 2, K. EMERY 2, P. VESZPREMI 2, J. MOORE 2, D. MCNEIL , M. PICKEN , C. MCKAIGUE , B. MEREDITH , J. LYNCH , L. JOHNSTON Best Players: T. DENNIS-LANE, P. VESZPREMI, B. MEREDITH, K. THORNTON, H. PLAYFAIR, E. KRUGER QUEANBEYAN Goal Kickers: A. LIESCHKE 2, T. DICKINSON , M. DANIHER , J. KAVANAGH , S. JENSEN , B. Neely , S. DANIEL Best Players: J. KAVANAGH, M. WESCOMBE, J. SATCHELL, A. LIESCHKE, T. COOK, B. Neely
Tough day at the office for the Tigers Coaching Staff.
Reserve Grade
The Tigers Reserve Grade team travelled to Amaroo on Sunday and played at the unfamiliar time of 2.00pm. The extra sleep-in didn’t provide any extra energy as the Gungahlin Jets provided strong opposition in the first quarter on the wide open spaces on their home ground. Eventually the Tigers took control of a quality game of footy to run out easy victors.
Brendan Ward, Freddie Nortje and Simon Mackie certainly came under notice of senior grade coach Mark Armstrong who was a keen observer of the game. The Kelly lads Hayden and Sean were both impressive throughout the match along with Michael Moss who gave plenty of drive in the third quarter when the game needed to be broken.
Ben Jabornik kept the competition leading goal kicker scoreless in a fine performance with Brett Ormston and Jared Daniel having strong performances throughout the match.
GUNGAHLIN 3 2 4 3 5 3 5 4 (34) QUEANBEYAN 3 1 7 4 10 6 14 12 (96)GUNGAHLIN Goal Kickers: N. BARB 2, K. Simpson , A. BUTLER , T. Pulford Best Players: N. BARB, T. Pulford, K. Simpson, D. Munday, R. DAVIS, A. Hess QUEANBEYAN Goal Kickers: J. BROOKER 4, F. Nortje 2, L. WILKINSON 2, S. Kelly , H. KELLY , B. WARD , D. JABORNIK , C. WALSH , J. Nancarrow Best Players: B. WARD, B. JABORNIK, F. Nortje, B. ORMSTON, J. DANIEL, S. Kelly
Under 18 Grade
The Under 18 Grade team enjoyed victory over Marist College at Marist. Not too many teams win matches at the Marist home ground but the Tigers played inspired football considering they were missing Sam Jensen to the 1st Grade team. By half time they had established a commanding lead. Not unexpectedly Marist came out hard in the last half and made the score respectable by full time even threatening the Tigers at one stage in the final quarter.
There were some excellent performances in this game. Fullback Kyle King continues to impress with his strong bullocking play and long kicking out of the backline ( a feature lost in modern day football these days). He provided plenty of advantage to players further a field. This quick movement of the ball from the backline has many positives if used correctly.
The ruck work of Jake Robinson and Dale Dickinson gave on ball players Jake Oram and Ryan Price a distinct advantage as both players enjoyed quality games around centre clearances. Jason Ainsworth gained his first taste of a Tigers jumper and played a solid game considering an eye injury prior to the game.
MARIST 1 1 1 5 3 7 8 10 58 QUEANBEYAN 6 3 9 6 11 9 13 11 89MARIST Goal Kickers: S. Kelly , L. Flaherty , T. Dryburgh , T. Short , K. Mahon , S. Drummond , D. Campbell , M. Laing Best Players: D. Discipio, S. Gilfedder, N. Toogood, S. Kelly, S. Drummond, D. Campbell QUEANBEYAN Goal Kickers: T. Lee 3, S. Winmar 3, D. Solway 2, Z. Bowden 2, S. HUNTER , R. PRICE , J. Murphy Best Players: T. Coggan, R. PRICE, L. Dowling, J. Murphy, J. AINSWORTH, J. Robinson
WOMEN GRADE
QUEANBEYAN 0.0 0.1 1.1 1.1 (7) EASTLAKE 5.0 8.1 10.5 13.8 (86)
Goals: Dani LewisBest: Pip Butt, Jacinta Froud, Amy McLenaghan , Davina Harris, Fran Langi, Bobbie Minniecon
The Queanbeyan Tigers can take a lot of positives out of their Friday night game against competition powerhouse Eastlake at a wet and wild Kingston Oval.
While the first quarter was not much to write home about on the scoreboard the Tigers did show they were more than capable of winning the one-on-one contests but gave the Eastlake team far too much space and were simply unable to create as many contest as they should have.
That changed after quarter time, helped somewhat by the heavens opening with torrential rain at times. The Tigers players lifted their efforts and intensity and made the Demons work hard for every kick. Pip Butt was outstanding running out of the back line and equally outstanding laying tackles and providing physical pressure. Not to be outdone was Amy McLenaghan who was also responsible for some big hits while having her best game for the season. The Tigers were unlucky not to kick a goal late in the term – the ball sailing through the big sticks to the roar of the Tigers Crowd (including some very vocal support from the Under 18s team and some ring ins from the Valley) but unfortunately it was touched off the boot.
At half time the Tigers were challenged not to be satisfied with one half-decent term and came out firing with Hannah Dunn showing the ACT coach that her ruck work is no laughing matter, Jacinta Froud leading the way as usual, Davina Harris, Jane Vucago , Chrisie Bourbous and Sarah Van Meurs working hard in the middle to give our forwards a chance. The Tigers took that opportunity and a free kick for a Eastlake throw gave Dani Lewis, who had been struggling with a neck injury all week and was only a last minute inclusion, the chance from 25m out. She kicked truly and the Tigers had the first goal of the second half, again much to the delight of the tigers supporters. The Tigers defence were outstanding for the rest of the term with Fran Langi, Bobbie Minniecon, Rach Short and Kristen Turner prominent.
The rain really came down in the final term and although the Tigers were unable to add to their score they kept making the competition front runners work hard in what was a real team effort with contributions across the ground. Besides the weather the other dampener on the night was a serious injury to Liz Langi who suffered a pretty bad shoulder dislocation.
Given the massive gap in terms of experience between the two teams the Tigers players can be happy with their efforts, particularly after quarter time, but should not get ahead of themselves and use the experience gained on the night to continue to improve in their first season. The next challenge is just as tough, travelling to Wagga Wagga to take on the Riverina Lions at 12noon next Saturday 3 July.