Tigers Talent Spread Across the Country!

The Tigers 2020 AFL Canberra 1st Grade Men's Premiership and 1st Grade Women's Grand Final squads certainly had some outstanding young talent.

Over the summer months there were players who moved on from the Tigers line-up and are now playing at elite levels and or have stayed local and played in Academy and VFLW games.

As we prepare for tonight's AFLW Draft for the 2022 season, we take a look at how our next level of tigers talent are progressing in season 2021!

Lexi Hamilton

It's been a big year for Lexi with the former 2020 Gold Coast Suns AFLW player pushing hard for another chance in the top flight.

She has spent the first half of 2021 with North Melbourne in the VFLW and what a season she had, playing ruck Lexi dominated the role and was named in the best 10 times out of 12 games as well as kicking 6 goals.

Since her return to the Tigers, the 2019 Premiership player has continued her strong form and is one of the leading players for the Tigers.

We hope that Lexi is again on the minds of recruiters and wish her all the best tonight.

> Watch the 2021 NAB AFLW Draft LIVE via womens.afl and the AFLW Official App on Tuesday, July 27 from 6.45pm AEST

Close to being best on ground in the 2020 premiership team, Harry Grant moved across to the strong South Australian National Football League (SANFL) playing for Central Districts.

The Bulldogs have won just three matches for the season, but Harry has played in all 14 competition games.

Matt Vardanega

also joined a SANFL Club. Norwood Football Club chased Matty over the past few years as he sharpened his skills in the NEAFL, then as a key defender in the Tigers 2020 premiership team.

He joined the Red Legs with the knowledge his father Glenn had played at the club and was keen to follow in his footsteps. He has played 3 senior games this year in a team that has won 8 matches from the 14 competition games played.

Other notable absences from the Tigers 2021 line up are

Kel Evans and Sam Frost.

Kel moved to Wollongong to pursue employment opportunities and while signing with Camden FC, found his way into the GWS GIANTS VFL team.

Sam has had an incredible journey through 2021 for a youngster with just 11 First Grade games with Queanbeyan that includes a 1st Grade premiership.

Highly regarded both on and off the field Sam is eligible to play with the Tigers come finals time if in fact not playing at a higher level.

A feature of 2021 has been games with the GWS GIANTS NAB team, the Allies, the GIANTS VFL team and now part of the GWS GIANTS Senior Group traveling in the COVID bubble. What an experience for this popular Queanbeyan youngster.

“Being in the bubble has been an amazing experience. Being able to train and be surrounded by elite AFL players is unreal. The training is awesome, being able to learn off some of the best in the game has been really special. The way they train and conduct themselves is second to none. They (GIANTS) have really included us academy lads and made us feel welcome. The experience has made me super hungry to work harder and make it to the elite level,” said Sam.

As well as the above the Tigers are extremely proud to have three other former players playing in the SANFL being 2012 NEAL Premiership player and Best and Fairest Kaine Stevens, his brother Reed and Lachlan Squire – all former Queanbeyan Juniors now playing with West Adelaide.

Rhys Pollock and Tom Stapleton have also played GIANTS VFL in season 2021 but both have now returned to the Tigers with a COVID interrupted VFL competition.

Flying under the radar but another who has accomplished heaps in 2021 is Brad Rauter.

After receiving a GIANTS Scholarship late last year, Brad has enjoyed a stellar season having played at the NAB level, as a member of the Allies team and now as a 1st Grade player with the Tigers.

Much has also been recorded of the achievements of Josh Fahey including another All AUSTRALIAN jumper. A separate story on this talented Queanbeyan Junior features on our Facebook page.

From the Tigerettes perspective, we are so proud to have former players Hannah Dunn as Co – Captain of the Gold Coast Suns, Tarni Evans playing for the GWS GIANTS AFLW, Jackie Parry with Melbourne AFLW.

Anita Manning and Ellen Squire have had impressive U18s Giant Academy and SESA season's and show the talent coming through is very exciting and have shown good form in the first grade squad.

The younger Hamilton’s - Jayde and Cynthia have also been very active in the talent space in 2021. Jayde has represented both the 19s Giants Academy and North Melbourne playing a handful of VFLW games.

Cynthia has been huge with All Australian u19s selection and BOG for the Allies at the recent Nationals. There is a separate feature on the Tigers Facebook page.