Wins in All Three Grades!

The photos attached below to each match report reflect three strong wins over Belconnen Magpies in each of the grades at Dairy Farmers Park last Sunday. It was a great day for the Tigers who have suffered at the hands of the Magpies many times in the last decade. What goes around comes around and it was the Tigers who won out at the weekend.

First Grade

It would have been a long drive North from DFP for the Magpies on Sunday knowing that they had slipped out of the four and lost the percentage advantage they had over the Tigers.

The 1% advantage the Tigers now hold may not mean much but when the last spot in the four is up for grabs with one match remaining in the home and away series of the 2010 AFL Canberra competition it could mean missing the finals for the first time for Belconnen since the Year 2000. Before last Sundays match Belconnen enjoyed a 7% buffer but such was their comprehensive defeat at the hands of the Tigers they now trail by 1% and four points. The Tigers emphatic 22 20 (152) to 13.10 (88) win could have been a lot worse if the home team had kicked straight.

As it stands the last home and away round of matches will determine the makeup of the final four. The Tigers play the Hawks at home and the Magpies play the Swans at Manuka Oval. Its anyone’s guess what the outcome will be at 5.00pm next Saturday. AFL Canberra could not have asked for a better scenario to finish off the season.

A best on ground performance by Captain Ryan Quade paved the way for a strong win over Belconnen. His marking around the ground was superb. He was a thorn in the Magpies armour which had been severely dented with a number of injury concerns for the north-side club. Toby Conroy was at his absolute best dominating proceedings around the park. His delivery of the ball was excellent creating many opportunities for the Tigers forward line.

The Tigers had 15 goal kickers which showed the benefit of not relying on key forwards at every entry into their forward fifty. Nevertheless James Kavanagh and Mark Armstrong were prominent all day and where rewarded with five goals between. Youngsters Andrew Swan and Will Griggs enjoyed strong games with plenty of quality possessions.

Relative newcomer to the seniors Simon Mackie is enjoying time in the top grade. His pace, strong marking and delivery of the ball being a feature. The every reliable Mitch Daniher enjoyed another day out. Paul Slater and Todd Dickinson both kicked quality goals in arguably their best games for the year.

QUEANBEYAN 6 7 13 10 18 14 22 20 (152) BELCONNEN MAGPIES 2 1 8 2 11 5 13 10 (88)QUEANBEYAN Goal Kickers: M. ARMSTRONG 3, T. Conroy 3, R. QUADE 2, P. SLATER 2, J. KAVANAGH 2, B. Neely , A. Swan , M. WESCOMBE , J. SATCHELL , M. LIDDLE , M. DANIHER , J. LONGMORE , P. Franchi , T. DICKINSON , S. MACKIE Best Players: T. Conroy, R. QUADE, A. Swan, S. MACKIE, J. KAVANAGH, W. GRIGGS BELCONNEN MAGPIES Goal Kickers: B. TALSMA 4, P. RAADTS 3, S. MIEKLE 3, D. Posch , D. Jordan , C. ECKERSLEY Best Players: M. CAMPBELL, D. Jordan, B. TALSMA, S. MIEKLE, S. CURTIS, J. Love

Reserve Grade

The Tigers did not expect to be six goals down early in the second quarter especially as they were fielding one of their strongest combinations for the year. The Magpies were playing with a lot of confidence and look likely to take the points in a top of the table clash. A few “old timers” stood tall for the Tigers with long standing names in the organisation Quade, Ioppi, Hair, Miller, Corcoran and Davis (up to half time) all leading the way to bring the scores to a three goal difference at half time. It was all the Tigers way in the third with an eight goal quarter but a late surge by the Magpies gave them a sniff going into the last. Two early goals to Belconnen and the game was reduced to a shoot out with the Tigers gaining the upper hand late in the game with 199 game veteran Renee Ioppi being the difference in front of goal with four majors. The elusive Brett Fruend posted another four goals in another strong performance. Brett Ormston proved his undoubted abilities with a tremendous performance around the ground. Dave Corcoran provides that spark in the forward line when needed and is a dangerous goal sneak from whatever angle. The win provided the Tigers with the minor premiership – something Coach Adrian Pavese never thought would happen after a 4 loss 3 win ratio in the opening 7 rounds of the competition.

QUEANBEYAN 1 3 4 5 12 7 14 10 (94) BELCONNEN MAGPIES 4 1 7 4 9 6 12 10 (82)QUEANBEYAN Goal Kickers: R. IOPPI 4, B. FRUEND 4, D. CORCORAN 2, B. ORMSTON 2, B. WARD , C. DAVIS Best Players: B. FRUEND, R. IOPPI, F. Nortje, J. Nancarrow, G. Hair, D. CORCORAN BELCONNEN MAGPIES Goal Kickers: Z. SHEATHER 4, S. Boyd 2, R. TOWILL 2, J. HODDER , J. Harper , D. Fair , L. Rhodes Best Players: Z. SHEATHER, J. Harper, N. BURRIDGE, L. Donohue, S. Boyd, L. Rhodes

Under 18 Grade

A welcome return to the winners list for the Tigers Under 18 Grade against Belconnen. After five successive losses they regrouped to defeat the team they will meet in the 1st Semi Final on Sunday week. Both teams were missing quality players and with the score only one point the difference at half time, the match was expected to go down to the final siren. The Tigers had other ideas.

Players lifted around the ground with Cameron Cobby dominated in the second half with a skill full display. Jake Oram was determined not to let this one go and played like a man possessed. Taylor Lee provided a strong target up forward rewarding his team with five goals. Jack Bowyer was again solid in defence with his blockbusting runs a feature. Youngsters Steve Camp and Toby Yeates enjoyed their time out of the Under 16’s and did not disappoint. Ryan Price continues to give plenty of options with unselfish handball being a feature on Sunday. Tim Coggan continues to improve and with a good preseason under his belt could be a surprise next year in the senior grade squads.

This week they need to atone for the loss suffered at the hands of the hawks three weeks ago. They cannot go into this match underestimating Tuggeranong as they did in their last encounter.

QUEANBEYAN 2 4 3 6 7 8 10 11 (71) BELCONNEN MAGPIES 0 2 3 5 3 5 3 9 (27)QUEANBEYAN Goal Kickers: T. LEE 5, C. COBBY 2, T. Maher , H. Cameron , M. Theunissen Best Players: C. COBBY, J. Bowyer, J. ORAM, T. Coggan, S. CAMP, T. LEE BELCONNEN MAGPIES Goal Kickers: A. Richens , S. Goodsell , D. WRIGHT Best Players: J. MALONEY, L. Harper, S. Goodsell, R. HARTWIG, A. COURIR, B. Posch