General News
11 April, 2023
Tigers prepare for round two
AFTER suffering an opening-round 61-point loss to Alvie, the Simpson Tigers will be looking for a win on its home ground this weekend.
AFTER suffering an opening-round 61-point loss to Alvie, the Simpson Tigers will be looking for a win on its home ground this weekend.
The Tigers will take on Birregurra at the Simpson Recreation Reserve on Saturday and according to coach Daniel Beard this season will be an “exciting one, with many clubs recruiting well in the off-season”.
“From what I’m hearing, it looks like the Colac league has really taken off in the off-season with lots of new recruits into many clubs,” Beard said.
“We’ve also recruited well at Simpson but so too has everyone around us and it looks like most have improved significantly.”
According to Beard, early-season indications are that clubs right down to “about eighth” can all stake a claim for finals this season.
“It’s looking like it’s going to be a fantastic season of footy,” he said.
“Our ambitions and goals haven’t changed; we want to keep training to get fitter, have fun within our club and to keep developing our kids. Our plan is to win enough games to make finals.”
Beard also concedes that plan will be even tougher this season due to the number of new recruits across the league, but the Tigers also boast several new and returning faces.
“We had six new players back in the Tiger jumper for round one, including returning players, which was pleasing.
“Matthew Dryton has come back from Colac, Zac Anderson from Camperdown and Lochie Hawkins has returned from WA, alongside Mitch Wright who’s back from Queensland.”
Ryan Mulder (Colac) and Kyle Clemmens (Apollo Bay) both played their first game for the club in the season opener and from all reports slotted in well to the seniors.
This week should also see Jesse Gallichan (Camperdown) play his first game for the Tigers.
“Gallichan is a skilful mid-fielder and it will be exciting to watch him this Saturday,” Beard said.
“And we’ll also get back some stalwarts who were missing from round one, including Brenton deJong, Nick Harding and Jono Jennings.”
With a playing list of 55, there’ll no doubt be some tough calls at the selection table this week – a position Beard is pleased to be in.
“We’re fortunate to have a really strong list to chose from; it’s tough but also a really nice position to be in. Both our seniors and reserve sides will be strong,” Beard said.
This weekend’s match up with Birregurra will give the Tigers a look into exactly where they sit early in the season.
Beard has full faith in his playing group to get the job done.
“We finished last season in fifth, and Birregurra in seventh, but they too have recruited really well and are super fit from all reports,” Beard said.
“They (Birregurra) beat Lorne in round one and I believe Birra, Lorne and us will all be trying to catch the top four this season – who I believe will be Alvie, South Colac, Irrewarra and Colac Imperials.
“We were pretty scratchy in round one and turnovers cost us badly. But I can never question our endeavour, and our commitment to the contest was right up there we just need to be a bit cleaner with the footy.”