AFL CANBERRA ROUND TWO 2011 $3.00 - neafl

neafl article
TIGERS READY TO
SHARPEN THEIR
CLAWS IN 2011 By JOHN by Michael FORRESTER Minns
Unity. That will be one of the strongest themes for the
Queanbeyan Tigers in season 2011.
In a new competition, the Tigers will see plenty of new
faces ensuring that it will be a year of fresh experiences
for the club.
With a new coach, and the loss of several players, the
Tigers are relishing the chance to play in the new
NEAFL.
New coach Rod O’Riley, hailing from Queensland, says
that overcoming the loss of key players including 2010
captain/coach Mark Armstrong will prove to be the
biggest test.
“It’s all about coming together as a side, we have
fantastic depth, 19 players in our senior squad won’t be
playing first grade or reserves this weekend. We have a
good range of skill levels and our new players are coming
together so hopefully it is not too disjointed.”
Heading in to the inaugural season of the NEAFL,
the Tigers have lost nearly 1000 games of top grade
experience. It is a staggering amount of experience lost
for a club for the club who is coming off the back of four
consecutive finals appearances.
“We’ve obviously lost Mark (Armstrong) to retirement, as
well as promising young player Jason Satchell and a key
ruckman Andrew Lieschke.” O’Riley said.
On the other side of the story, Queanbeyan will have
plenty of youth to call upon in 2011.
“With so many new players coming in to our setup, the
change of competition will be good for everyone.”
But with all of the losses aside, Queanbeyan still have
a core of key players who will be feared by rival clubs.
Representative footballers James Kavanagh, legendary
on-baller Mitch Daniher and Captain Ryan Quade will
expect to be prominent players throughout the season.
O’Riley compared the transition and player turnover to
that of the new AFL franchise, the Gold Coast Suns, who
endured a tough induction to the AFL after a 119-point
loss to Carlton.
“It will be a similar story to that of the Suns I would
think, it will probably take a while to come together
but there is plenty of potential there for success in the
future”
The first test for the Tigers this season will come up
against another side that have plenty of new faces, the
Belconnen Magpies. Like the Tigers, the Magpies had a
mass exodus of players and saw some heavy recruiting
out of the Cairns region, another region partaking in the
NEAFL.
“Both clubs have had very strong recruitment and there
will be plenty of new faces so I guess whoever handles
the change better will come out on top on Sunday.”
It is a chance for O’Riley to develop a winning culture
at the Tigers and it starts this Sunday and 2pm at Dairy
Farmers Park in Queanbeyan.
QUEENBO
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