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Double challenge for
West, Tuggeranong
Struggling West Canberra and Tuggeranong,
facing their second games in five days,
will have to work hard to join the ACT
Australian Football League's winning list
tomorrow.
The two played an exciting 90-alI draw at
Football Park, Phillip on Wednesday, to
complete the split-round four of the Escort
premiership, and would have found tomorrow's
opposition tough enough without the
added challenge of a mid-week game.
Tomorrow Tuggeranong is at home to
Eastlakc, at Wanniassa Oval, and West Canberra
meets Belconnen, at Football Park,
Phillip.
The match of the round is at Queanbcyan's
Margaret Donoghoe Sportsground, between
Queanbeyan and Manuka. All games are at
2.15pm and Ainslie has the bye.
Most teams will be afTected by the loss of
players to the ACT representative side,
playing against Tasmania in an Escort Shield
match in Hobart today.
Eastlake's captain-coach Phil Carman will
be keen to see the weakened Eagles seize a
golden opportunity for their first win of the
season, and Tuggeranong's hold on fifth place
may well prove temporary. The Eagles should
begin their comeback with a victory.
Carman did not pick a team at the normal
time but named a squad of 23, including
several newcomers. He expects to have four
new players in the side.
Mark Southwell, Phil Harper and Phil
Russell are in the ACT team in Hobart, and
Jim Edlington has been dropped.
The newcomers could include Alan
Southwell, the O'Connell brothers, and Mick,
Robert and Paul Felsman.
Carman said Eastlakc had begun the game
against Belconnen well but relaxed and
stopped running and chasing.
With Bcrnie Mickelson inspiring the dc
fence, and players such as Martin King, Ted
Rickman, Greg Weick, George Samios and
David Fisher to carry the attack, the Eagles
will have too much dash for the Bulldogs.
Bclconnen will be without Ian Low and
GeofT Hocking — in Tasmania — and the
injured David Werner, but will still be too
strong for West Canberra. Frank Southwell,
Mark Killer and Tony Stubbs are useful
replacements.
West Canberra was unable to name a team
at the usual time, with at least four injuries
from Wednesday's game. The Magpies
named last Wednesday's 20 but included
Dunn, Penny, Harrington, Flood and
McPhan for the selectors' consideration.
West's Mick Konemann was taken off on
a stretcher, with suspected broken
cheekbones, after an injury in the match
against Tuggeranong on Wednesday, but was
released from Royal Canberra Hospital that
night.
He had suffered no fractures but carried
a badly swollen face, club official Sandy
Powell said yesterday.
Belconncn's win over Eastlake was impressive,
particularly in its fightback from a
big deficit, and the side will be hard to stop
now it has had a taste of victory.
The defence looks too solid and, with Mai
Manson a more than capable substitute at
ccntre half-forward, the Blue Boys look
bound for victory.
Three of Queanbeyan's most senior
players will have control of the Tigers'
coaching duties when they meet Manuka —
Alan Imire, Graham Fort and captain Peter
Harrington.
Queanbeyan's coach, Brian Quade, the
ACT and former Manuka coach, will be in
Tasmania.
— BARRY ROLLINGS
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