% the difference between playing finals footy and a long off season.

A disappointing NEAFL season has concluded for the reigning Premiers.

They will miss the finals on percentage with GWS GIANTS taking fifth spot. The closeness of the competition throughout the season is highlighted by the fact that the Tigers were just three games from top spot on the ladder but have failed to make the finals.

The Tigers won a heart stopping encounter at Dairy Farmers Park on Saturday by just 2 points over Hills Eagles after being well down early in the last quarter. This on top of their strong win over competition leaders Belconnen Magpies the previous week and a last minute three point loss on the siren to Ainslie two weeks ago.

Hard fought victory.

The Sydney based team held a 20 point lead going into the last quarter and then posted the opening goal to extend their lead. All seemed lost for the home team until Kaine Stevens took control and seemingly bobbed up all around the ground posting two important goals for the Tigers to close the gap as the quarter progressed.

They eventually took the lead with only minutes remaining but with a goal to Hills Eagles late in the final term (against a strong wind) – all seemed lost as the visitors took a two point advantage.

But a relentless attack on goal without a major resulted in a number of points being scored for the Tigers to eventually take a two point advantage as the siren sounded.

The Tigers had 10 scoring shots to just three in the last quarter which is indicative of how strong the wind advantage was throughout the match.

Once again the Tigers two leaders Coach Kade Klemke and Captain Ryan Quade were strong for the entire match. Klemke’s desire to win the hard contest most certainly encouraged others into action. He repeatedly won the ball across half back and sent the Tigers into attack. Quadies high marking is a feature and his positional play is exceptional.

There were few who gave a full four quarters but mention must be made of yet another player on debut in Bermagui youngster Brandon Lagana. The South Coast product gained many possessions throughout the match and has a certain future at this level in coming years.

From Saturdays NEAFL team Sam Jensen is yet another quality young player in the Tigers camp and he along with Beau Walker (19), Ben Fulford (18) and Kieren Shea (18) will form the backbone of the Club next season. They along with any number of other players through the grades.

The NEAFL team can be disappointed in terms of not making the finals but realistically it has once again achieved success in other areas in Season 2013. Had a long list of serious injuries not dampened their progress they could well have been contesting the finals.

The highlight include the selection of many players from this years Under 18 Grade Rising Stars team or that of last years Under 18 Grade team now playing Division 1.

Queanbeyan1.1-76.3-396.8-4411.13-79Hills Eagles4.6-305.11-418.16-6410.17-77

Queanbeyan

Goal Kickers: K. Stevens 3, J. Kavanagh 3, B. Fulford 2, B. Walker, R. Quade, K. Shea Best Players: R. Quade, K. Klemke, K. Stevens, S. Jensen, J. Kavanagh, B. Lagana

Hills Eagles

Goal Kickers: S. Doyle 3, J. Finlayson 2, J. Vlatko 2, Z. Johns , D. Steer , S. Reed Best Players: S. Doyle, S. Pollock, A. Buchanan, S. Reed, D. Charleston, T. Stubbs

Current LadderPOSTEAMPWLDBFA%PTS1Sydney Swans181260419901393142.86482Belconnen181260421331568136.03483Ainslie181170417371573110.43444Eastlake18108041441155492.73405UWS Giants18990421071605131.28366Queanbeyan1899041616177990.84367Hills Eagles18711041637184788.63288Sydney Uni18612041587186585.09249Tuggeranong1821604936226241.388

AFL Canberra Division 1

The Tigers Division 1 team has been playing some pretty good footy of late and last Saturday was no exception. They completely overwhelmed the Tugerranong Hawks with a comprehensive 115 point win.

17 year old Scott Lancaster in only his second game in this division posted 4 goals in an impressive display. This after backing up from the Tigers Under 18 grade team earlier in the day during which he was also listed amongst the best players.

The Tigers had two many “big guns” firing with Cam Griggs and Michael Wescombe showing the way for players of a much younger age group.

Div 1-2-600

Div 1-3-600

Div 1-4-600

Div 1-600

But the mixture of youth and experience is starting to evolve. The Tigers are the dark horse of the Division 1 competition but have a desire to achieve positives results from the up coming finals series. They will be fully tested on Saturday in the last home and away match against Eastlake at DFP – a team who has won all encounters against them this year.

If the likes of Dean Ross, Jared Daniel and Jake Oram can reproduce their current form and link with the impressive Tim Brook then anything can happen at the business end of the season.

Queanbeyan Tigers4.4-2811.8-7415.15-10518.18-126Tuggeranong Hawks1.1-71.1-71.2-81.5-11

Queanbeyan Tigers

Goal Kickers: S. Lancaster 4, C. Griggs 4, M. Wescombe 2, T. Brook 2, J. Armstrong, P. Franchi, E. Maatouk, D. Ross, J. McNeill, D. Sainsbury Best Players: T. Brook, D. Ross, C. Griggs, J. Daniel, J. Oram, S. Lancaster

Tuggeranong Hawks

Goal Kickers: J. Brown Best Players: B. Sherring, J. Brown, B. Andreatta, J. Willoughby, M. Clarke

Under 18 Grade Rising Stars

The Tigers Rising Stars team felt the brunt of a number of players being absent last weekend and were unable to contain an enthusiastic Eastlake combination that ran away with the game in the final term to win comfortably and inflict the Tigers 4th loss of the season.

Regardless – there were some good performances particularly from the likes of Captain Jono Bowyer, Daniel Oserik, Scott Lancaster, Jason Taylor and Marcus Lawrence.

There were a number of new faces in the team including the son of Darren Hilton a former player of the premiership squad of 1985. Young Zac is looking forward to being a strong contributor to the club in future years.

Under 18 Grade-600

Under 18-600

Under 18 (2)-600

Another name familiar to many in the Canberra region is that of Wallis. Young Mitch impressed in his first game for the Tigers and is the grandson of former AFL Canberra General Manager Gary Wallis.

The Tigers will play Tuggeranong on Saturday at Dairy Farmers Park in the last home and away match before the finals the following week.

Queanbeyan Tigers3.0-184.2-267.4-467.5-47Eastlake3.3-215.4-347.7-4910.11-71

Queanbeyan Tigers

Goal Kickers: T. Shea 2, M. Wallis 2, J. Thompson , S. Lancaster , C. Haub Best Players: J. Bowyer, D. Osarek, S. Lancaster, M. Lawrence, J. Taylor, M. Wallis

Eastlake

Goal Kickers: M. Smith 3, D. Biermann 2, S. Askew , G. Gillespie , M. Marinelli , K. Warrener , M. Toy Best Players: J. Connoley, B. Fitzgerald, T. Clowry, K. Warrener, T. Ratcliffe, W. Vardos