QUEANBEYAN Tigers are on the verge of doubling down in flag success tomorrow when their AFL Canberra First Grade Men’s and Women’s sides run out for their respective grand finals. The Women’s side has gone undefeated from 15 games and a final in 2024, while the men’s team recorded a 12-3 record and successfully reached the grand final.

The Queanbeyan men’s team got past Ainslie Tricolours by 10 points in the qualifying final, while the women’s team won by 19 points over Belconnen Magpies earlier that day. However while the women will face a rematch against the Magpies, the men set their sights on Eastlake Demons who shocked Ainslie in the preliminary final by 26 points, and have convincingly won both finals.

QUEANBEYAN TIGERS vs. EASTLAKE DEMONS
First Grade Men’s Grand Final
Saturday, September 14 @ EPC Solar Park, 3:55pm

Looking at the men’s game, Eastlake turned around an inaccurate 14.7 (91) to 6.17 (53) loss to Belconnen in the last round of the season to switch places a week later as the Demons piled on 11.7 (73) to defeat the Magpies 4.10 (34). Then they scored over Ainslie 10.11 (71) to 6.9 (45) to dare to dream against the Tigers.

The Grand Final is being held at EPC Solar Park which might give the underdogs a bit of a boost, having knocked off the Tigers there back in Round 5, with a 30-point win. Queanbeyan has since won twice against the Demons, to the tune of 28 points in Round 11, and 26 points in Round 14, the latter of which also came at the grand final venue.

Andrew Swan has booted 13 goals in 14 matches this season, and slotted 13 goals in the last round of the season to bring up his half-ton before missing the first final. Swan averaged three goals per game across his three encounters with the Demons. Rhys Pollock (36 goals) has also had a big year in front of the sticks and been named in the best 12 times. For Eastlake, the duo of Angus Jones (30 goals) and Angus Baker (26) are key players, with the latter named among the best 10 times.

Of course Baker won the Mulrooney Medal as the league’s best and fairest and was named vice-captain in the Team of the Year. Swan (captain) and Pollcok featured in the Team of the Year up forward, with Jack Nunn (back pocket) and Anthony Lo Pilato (centre half-back) in defence, while Tyler Collins (wing) and Aiden Bowyer (ruck) the others. For Eastlake, Alex Smout (centre) was named on-ball, while Jones featured inside 50.

QUEANBEYAN TIGERS vs. BELCONNEN MAGPIES
First Grade Women’s Grand Final
Saturday, September 14 @ EPC Solar Park, 11:15am

The women’s grand final looks to be a little more evident with the undefeated Tigers strong favourites, though Belconnen is not out of the contest. The Magpies lost by six points in Round 4 at home, before back-to-back forgettable losses of 59 and 33 points to the Tigers. In the most recent encounter, the Tigers got up 6.5 (41) to 3.4 (22) in the qualifying final to earn a spot in the decider.

Belconnen actually has three of the top four leading goalkickers including bottom-age gun Isla Wiencke (23 goals) alongside Hannah Wallett (33) and Jorja Simpson (26). Quanbeyan has more of an even approach to its goalkicking, with Jesse Goldski (21), Cleo Cook (20), Emma Dunn (17) and Lisa Roberts (16) all chipping in. Trish Muller (Queanbeyan) and Natasha McKay (Belconnen) are two players who have featured heavily in their team’s bests this season.

In the Team of the Year, Queanbeyan had a massive six players from the 20 named, with ruck Madison Lustri alongside Muller, Madelyne Czubara, Jayde Hamilton and Anita Manning. For the Magpies, Simpson was named on-ball with Wiencke and Wallett up forward, while Amber Allen was named vice-captain a back pocket.