AFL CANBERRA EDITION 03 $2.50 FULL FORWARD LEADS HAWKS BRIGHT START TO 2008 BRUISED BRETT BOUNCES INTO BELCONNEN’S BOX Contents A CHAMPION TEAM... IS BETTER THEN A inside In the Box with the GM 4 AFL Canberra Limited Bradman Stand Manuka Oval Manuka Circle ACT 2603 TEAM OF CHAMPIONS News 6 PO Box 3759, Manuka ACT 2603 Ph 02 6228 0337 Fax 02 6232 7312 Local Hero 10-11 Publisher Coordinate Communication PO Box 1975 Seniors 12-17 WODEN ACT 2606 Ph 02 6162 3600 Email [email protected] Neither the editor, the publisher nor AFL Canberra Reserves 18 accepts liability of any form for loss or harm of any type however caused All design material in the magazine is copyright protected and cannot be reproduced without the written permission of Under 18’s 19 Coordinate Communication. Editor Jamie Wilson Ph 02 6162 3600 Round 03 Email [email protected] Designer Kirsty McCabe Ph 02 6162 3600 Email [email protected] vs Photography Andrew Trost Email [email protected] Greenway Oval, Sat 19th April, 2pm Thanks to our sponsors vs Margaret Donoghoe Oval, Sat 19th April, 2pm vs Ainslie Oval, Sun 20th April, 2pm Design + Branding + PR + Advertising + Internet www.coordinate.com.au ACTION shots of the week In the box with the GM Who would have thought that Belconnen, the power Swans playing stocks. Tuggeranong were the only club from Canberra for the last decade, would be club disappointed understanding it will be a blow winless and last after 2 games in 2008? The Mag- to their chances of picking up a Swan or two in the pies were perhaps not prepared mentally for the near future. Chris and Billy at Ainslie have seen too first game and after much unrewarded effort in the many games of football to rely on matters beyond first half could not keep pace with Ainslie desperate their control to assist their cause. Both men will for victory in round 1. Last week in the extraordi- appreciate the need for Tony Bourke to be dominant nary, world class ANZ Stadium the Swans and Nick and precise foot skills to allow fast ball movement Davis specifically proved too good for Belconnen. to give the locals a chance against the Swans. No No doubt this week has been a stinging experience doubt all the Ainslie supporters will be hoping for all Magpie players and supporters having to Nick’s eight goals were well noticed by the Swans face all their day to day connections knowing that match committee. they are winless. The game Saturday afternoon at Last start winners Eastlake and Queanbeyan face Greenway between Tuggeranong and Belconnen off at Tiger Park- the Tigers third home game in a could be a classic. The Hawks have nothing to fear row. Mitch Daniher continues his sparkling 2007 with few outside the club carrying any expectations form and will need some watching by a Demon or of Michael Horne’s men. Eastlake are aware that two. The Tiger tall men, particularly up forward, the Tuggeranong boys play with a level of sprit that will challenge Nathan Clarke with the use of cham- is difficult to match and it was only late in the game pion Stafford Cooper. Stafford was the dominant that the Tigers were able to rid themselves of the player on the ground in Eastlake’s win last weekend pesky Hawks last week. On this basis alone the but as a forward whereas he has achieved most of Magpies should carry significant respect for their his glory as a defender. With Danny Jacques sliding opponent this week. No Knowles and a midfield not quietly into the Tiger forward line late in quarters ( providing the drive expected of them and backing well as quietly as big DJ can slide anyway) the de- Belconnen is not the comfortable tip it might have fence of Eastlake will be stretched more than once been in years gone by. The start of the game will or twice on Sunday afternoon. be emotional, the rest of the game an arm-wrestle and the winner will be the one with the courage to I can’t wait to get to any of the three games this convert opportunities. weekend. I can’t be sure who will dominate indi- vidually, I can’t be sure who will win. I am sure the On Sunday a resurgent Ainslie face the Swans at bar-b-que at all three grounds will be great value the oval of carpet. Big bad Barry’s suspension was and worth a visit though. greeted with some self interest here with clubs knowing the further pressure it will place on the News Full Forward leads Ghirardello’s six goal haul against Eastlake came in his 50th match for the club, which along with the win was a dream Hawks bright start to way to celebrate his milestone game. “It was a very impressive performance. It’s always good 2008 to get a win in a milestone game, and when you have performed well yourself it makes it even better,” he said. By James Patmore At 180cm, Ghirardello is one of the smallest key forwards After a turbulent off-season that was highlighted by the in the competition. However Hawks coach Michael Horne failed merger with the Canberra Wildcats, Tuggeranong says this can work to his advantage. were widely expected to struggle throughout the 2008 AFL Canberra season, as a result of this drama. “He certainly isn’t the tallest target, but the game has changed a lot in recent years and there have been a lot of However the Hawks have overcome this turmoil to make successful small forwards who can play as key targets,” a promising start to the season, with its opening two he said. performances indicating that it will be a competitive force throughout 2008. “If you look at the AFL, with the likes of the Matera’s and “The main role I’ll play is at training, helping out every Brad Johnson… they have shown you don’t need to be a tall Bruised Brett bounces night, helping the guys in rehab and training drills and Having begun its season with a comfortable 37 point win player to be a leading option, which can be an advantage in stuff like that.” over Eastlake at Greenway Oval, the young Hawks side Matt’s case.” into Belconnen’s Box Belconnen’s playing coach Steve Mahar also sees the impressed early against league leaders Queanbeyan last Despite his presence up forward, Horne hasn’t ruled out positive for Knowles, and believes that he will add to the Sunday, leading at half time before falling to a 28 point moving Ghirardello up the field during the season, as the By Joe Sullivan coach’s box come game day. loss. team looks to develop another forward line target. “It’s certainly a shame he can’t be on the field but he adds Belconnen utility Brett Knowles doesn’t know exactly a lot to the coach’s box given that he’s there for all the Whilst both performances have impressed many on “I’m not sure where he will play this week. We are a young how long he will be out of action for Belconnen with a training sessions and the thoughts behind selections,” lookers, it is the form of full-forward Matt Ghirardello that team, and we do need to develop another option up forward knee injury, but he already knows his new interim role Mahar said. has been instrumental to the Hawks solid start. to play along side Matt. So he may play a different role this in the Magpies coaching box. “I think he’ll be an asset to our coach’s box.” week, possibly even off the half back flank,” he said. Already an assistant playing coach with Belconnen, Mahar said that Knowles’ leadership on the field will The 26 year old state representative is arguably the form Knowles sees his move into the coach’s box as an transfer to the Belconnen’s brains trust off the field. forward of the competition, kicking 11 goals to be second Wherever he plays, Ghirardello says his impressive form opportunity, in the wake of the knee injury that is “I think the communication at the quarter time breaks, his on the competition’s goal kicking table, behind Swans will have to continue in Saturday’s clash with Belconnen, expected to sideline him for two months. leadership will continue there and will probably be a more superstar Nick Davis, who leads the way with 13. who surprisingly remain the only winless team in the “That will be the positive out of it (the knee injury) but important one given that he can see what’s happening from competition. it will be a good experience and hopefully I can add above. Ghirardello says his early season form can be attributed to something up there,” he said. “His leadership on the field is fantastic but we’re probably the way the team has gelled together, especially given the “There is no doubt they (Belconnen) will be up for it this “In terms of not playing its unfortunate but I suppose it’s going to have to give that role to someone else.” events that occurred during the pre-season. weekend, given they haven’t won a game yet,” he said. the type of game we play.” Mahar has looked at replacements for players who can fill “Personally I know that I will have to play at my best to The former Saint Kilda player will continue his close the hole Knowles leaves behind.