Finley’s Ben Ashley-Cooper had a stunning senior debut with AFL Canberra League side Queanbeyan Tigers on Saturday, helping them to a convincing grand final win.
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The Tigers won the AFL Canberra first grade premiership by 55 points against Eastlake.
The 18 year-old debutant played through the forward line and on the wing in the biggest game of the season.
Ashley-Cooper played in the Tigers’ second grade and Rising Stars sides throughout 2020 and was quickly accepted by first grade teammates for the senior decider.
‘‘I wasn’t quite sure what to expect but everyone was really supportive and that helped me to settle in and enjoy playing the game,’’ he said.
‘‘It was a pretty surreal feeling to get the win. For the last few minutes of the game it started to become obvious that we would win, and I was in disbelief.
‘‘Even after the final siren, it took some time to sink in.
‘‘We knew how Eastlake like to play and what we had to do to match them in those areas.
‘‘Everyone stepped up and played their role and there were also some amazing individual performances.’’
To make it a family double, Ben’s sister Eloise played for the Queanbeyan Tigers first grade senior women’s side in their grand final on Saturday.
Eloise took to the field on Saturday night after watching her brother lift the trophy, but her side were defeated by Belconnen Magpies, 6.5 (41) to 5.1 (31).
Despite not winning the premiership, Eloise had some consolation when voted best player for her side.
But this did not overcome the disappointment of what she said was a poor performance by the team.
‘‘We had such a shocker on Saturday,” Eloise said.
‘‘The game didn’t reflect our season; nothing went our way on the day, though after the game we had a good reflection.
‘‘We need to keep pushing to improve and I believe we can do so for next season.’’
Eloise will return home to Finley to work on the family farm during harvest and is then hoping to re-unite with VFLW Essendon Bombers.
She was named 2019 VFLW Rising Star by the club and is keen to return for the 2021 season.
‘‘If the opportunity arises after the COVID-19 pandemic I’d like to get back with the girls in Essendon.
‘‘We are currently in the VFL, but our CEO is passionate about our side and pushing for us to join the AFLW.
‘‘We will have an off-season program sent to us so we can stay fit and ready to resume if the restrictions are eased in Victoria,’’ Eloise said.
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