AFL: At the midpoint of the season The Queanbeyan Tigers sit at five wins, three losses after a 25-point win over the Jets in Gungahlin on Saturday, but can they be the first side to hand a loss to the Belconnen Magpies this weekend?
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The closest any team has come to taking down the Magpies was Tuggeranong in round six, losing by 11 points. Last time Queanbeyan lined up against them at Allinsure in round five, the Tigers missed out by just the two majors.
Tigers backman Jack O'Halloran held Belconnen goal sneak and current AFL Canberra leading goalkicker, Chris York to just two goals last time the two met and Queanbeyan assistant coach, Dave Corcoran said his boys will undoubtedly be hoping for a repeat performance.
"The last time we played Belconnen we were always chasing our tail, we worked hard to get goals and they would get an easy reply," he said.
"They have a few key position players, the Bennett brothers [Lexie and James] and [Chris] York, so we'll put O'Halloran on one of the three and even have Mitch Price on a shutdown role.
"We'll look to Kade [Klemke], [Brett Fruend] and [Ben] Fulford, who is back from injury, to use their attacking skills to capitalise when we get the momentum. Kane Godde is back from a three-week suspension so we'll look to him up forward as well as [Matt] Growcott and Mark Solway, who has been playing some really good footy since being promoted to first grade. Ambidextrous Alex Page always plays well and Big key position player Mitch Thompson, who could be the x-factor, returns from a hamstring injury.
"Last time we only lost to them by two goals and we've improved a lot in the last month... we're playing on their home ground which is so small, which should help us. We're really excited for the game and excited at the thought of beating them on their home turf."
Last weekend Queanbeyan lead Gungahlin at every change, but the Jets, kicking with the breeze, had a massive 3.3 quarter in the third, to the Tigers measly three points.
Mitch Price, Alec McCormick and Klemke steadied the ship for the Tigers at the end of the third and Joseph Tegart, Matt Growcott (three goals) and Alex Page got Queanbeyan over the line in the fourth.
Jarrod Thompson was given best on ground for the Tigers and Marcus Lawrence registered two majors.
The Tigers take on Belconnen, Saturday, July 4, at Kippax Oval.