A Touch of Class

Werribee Tigers – the North Melbourne VFL affiliate and last year’s FOXTEL Cup grand finalist – had seven North Melbourne players in their team when they took on Queanbeyan Tigers in Round 1 of the FOXTEL Cup competition last Tuesday evening and the gulf in class showed.

Jordan Gysberts, Will Sierakowski and Taylor Hine – North’s three emergencies from last Sunday’s heartbreaking loss to Adelaide – led the way.   The Werribee team asserted its dominance on the contest early, demonstrating its immense tackling pressure and speedy transition through the middle of the ground.

Queanbeyan responded in the second term, but were unable to maintain the effort throughout match, conceding seven goals in the final quarter.

Gysbert was a standout performance in Werribee’s 85-point FOXTEL Cup win.

He switched clubs from Melbourne during last year’s trade period, and was industrious through the midfield, gathering 22 disposals, four clearances and four inside-50s – mostly before three-quarter time.

The NEAFL Tigers Premiership outfit were far from disgraced.

After a three goal burst by Werribee in the opening 5 minutes of play, Werribee did not score another goal until late in the first quarter as Queanbeyan  adjusted to the hype of the moment and the quality of opposition they were up against.

Toby Conroy’s late arrival at the ground due to airport disruptions in Sydney did the visitors no favours but once he took the field of play there was a different tempo about the game.

The second term was a dour affair with only one goal apiece being scored but the damage had been done in the opening term and Queanbeyan were not able to convert opportunities that would close the gap sufficiently to worry the Melbourne based Tigers going into the second half.

Indeed Werribee had much of the play throughout the game and had they been more accurate a larger score may have been posted.

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Needless to say the whole experience for the Queanbeyan Club was worthwhile.  It will remain in the minds of many players and officials as one of their football career highlights.

The Club stood tall both on and off the field with an exceptional attitude and respect for everything that occurred during the two day period.

To mention names is a shame but once again Kaine Stevens has provided himself with every opportunity to come under notice of clubs at a higher level. He along with Will Griggs.

Griggs in and under and toughness around the ball does not go unnoticed.   Even though a late arrival – Toby Conroy was adjudged best for the Queanbeyan Tigers.   Jarrod Atkinson was strong throughout and showed the undoubted talent he has while Coach Kade Klemke once again displayed a high quality exhibition for his players.

Acknowledgement

The Club would like to acknowledge all those who attended the game.  The FOXTEL coverage did not show the strong contingent of parents, former players and supporters now living in Melbourne and other associates of the club that were in attendance.  It was fantastic to see our players thank those in attendance at the final siren and then embrace them at the arena fence for a lengthy period after the match.  The after match function at a local establishment – even though quite late – was another mark of how respected the Tigers Club is acknowledged.

To those officials / volunteers who attended a very big thankyou for your efforts:  Gary Bullivant, Chrissy Craven, Ray Daniel, Fred Gisik, Paul James, Paul Campbell,  Lisa Bush, Robbie Thompson, Paul James, Josh Bryce, Michael Goiser, Peter Jensen, Wally Thompson, Tyler Collins, Stephen Camp, Alec McCormick and those injured players in James Kavanagh and Beau Walker.

Our thanks and appreciation to those involved in the organisation of the FOXTEL Cup and in particular Simon Laughton of the AFL for his support and assistance throughout.

Werribee           5.3    6.8    9.14     16.17 (114) Queanbeyan     1.1    2.2    3.4       4.4 (28)

Goals Werribee: Brown 3, Maric 3, McGennis 2, Clouston 2, Sierakowski 2, Ross, Tudor, Castello, Speight. Queanbeyan: Stevens 2, Griggs, Franchi.

Best Werribee: Gysberts, Sierakowski, Hine, Kennedy, Brown, Maric. Queanbeyan: Conroy, Stevens, Klemke, Daniher, Atkinson, Griggs.