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Tigers Star James Kavanagh will be looking for a big game this week - Photo from Ben Southall
It has been a number of years since the Tigers featured in a top of the table clash but they do so this Sunday at Dairy Farmers Park when they take on the Eastlake Demons.
In fact, all three grades will play against the Demons in what should be a tremendous day of footy.
Rising Stars
The Under 18 Grade will commence proceedings at 9.30am. Even though the Demons have only played one game this year, they are highly regarded as the team to be beat based on a number of players joining them from the Marist team that played in the 2011 grand final.
The young Tigers combination will have five players back for this all important clash with Toby Yeates, Stephen Camp, Justin Galloway, Marcus Lawrence and Graham Lennon all available for selection this week.
This is quality football at a young age – so don’t miss out on the next crop of senior grade players playing at this level of footy.
AFL Canberra Division 1
With triple premiership success comes a few hangovers. The Tigers AFL Canberra Division 1 (formerly Reserve Grade) team have enjoyed huge success over the past decade. Seven Grand Finals in 10 years have resulted in Four Premierships.
The nucleolus of the team has stuck together but there has been a dramatic “changing of the guard” since the end of 2011.
This Sundays Division 1 team could be missing the following players from last year’s victorious premiership team.
Paul Briedis (overseas), Daniel McGavin (Gold Coast), Greg Hair (Unavailable), Liam Wilkinson and Daniel Jabornik (injured), Jarrod Daniel, Brett Ormston (semi retired), James Manie, Daniel Campbell, Paul Franchi (all playing NEAFL), Jackson Brooker (Gippsland) and Jon Elias (retired).
This is a massive turnover of players but the team has won two of its three matches this season with just a four point loss to Belconnen in round 2.
Add the unavailability of a couple of players this week and they will be up against it when taking on a strong Eastlake combination that defeated Ainslie last week.
But never fear when Pav is near. This triple premiership coach will make sure his team will be at its most competitive best especially at home.
The Division One Clash kicks off at 11.30am in what should be a great curtain raiser to the NEAFL game.
Ben Klemke has added some much needed grunt to the forward line - Photo from Ben Southall.
NEAFL
A host of former AFL players will grace the playing arena at Dairy Farmers Park on Sunday when the Tigers take on Eastlake in the NEAFL Round 4 match of the day.
Eastlake signed former Sydney Swans Reserve Grade premiership player Ryan Brabazon over the summer. He should be making his first grade debut for the Demons this Sunday after missing the opening rounds through injury.
The Tigers will showcase former Essendon defender Jarrod Atkinson, former Sydney Swans Reserve Grade premiership player Matt Beckmans and Tigers Coach Kade Klemke – who was also a listed player at Essendon.
The Demons have recruited quite a number of other players from major leagues around the country and have lost very few from a senior grade list of 2011 that took them to a preliminary final.
Klemke was at his best in Sydney against the Hills Eagles and was voted best on ground. Josh Bryce should come back into the team to stabilize the backline while the Tigers have two prominent forwards in James Kavanagh and newcomer Ben Klemke who has been the surprise packet of the Tigers off season recruiting campaign.
The match kicks off at 2.00pm.
Ladies
The Tigerettes play their first game of the season taking on Gungahlin Jets at the Queanbeyan Park Oval on Sunday at 10.00am.
They have a number of players returning after missing last season plus the recruitment of ACT Representative Captain Melissa Hurley.
Coach Matthews has them fired up for this all important opening round match.
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