QUEANBEYAN Tigers' AFL Canberra division one coach Paul Campbell says game plans will be the same as they have been all year heading into Saturdays grand final against Ainslie at Gungahlin Town Centre Oval.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
The Tigers have won their last 12 games in a row, and are in search of their first AFL Canberra title since 2011, but having lost just two matches all year, Campbell said he had not changed anything at team training, in order to keep cool heads within the team.
"We believe in what we do and we've won 12 in a row. Grand finals are very different, but we know what we have to do and it won't be changing too much up," he said.
Most players in the squad will be out for their first premierships as players, but for Campbell, he will be looking for his first as a coach, having won titles in the past for the club as a player.
He will have plenty of experience to call upon in his team, including 200 gamer Neil Irwin, competition award-winning goal kicker Michael Wescombe, the likes of Campbell Griggs, Sean Wilkinson, and NEAFL fringe players Stephen Camp and Mitchell Gorman.
With Wescome having also taken the equal best and fairest award at the AFL Canberra presentation night last Sunday, Campbell said he would be hungry for success on Saturday, and would be a go-to man to kick goals.
"He kicked 44 goals for the year and he's a pretty proud guy, and wants to win a grand final," said Campbell.
Campbell admitted the grass at the Gungahlin Town Centre Oval had a rough quality, and said earning a week off with his team would be an advantage over Ainslie, who have had to play on the same rough surface for the last two weeks.
"It's a big ground, and it's a hard ground, so the extra days probably didn't hurt us," he said.
With any remaining NEAFL players likely to move down to the AFL Canberra competition next season, Campbell said the grand final would be a good chance for players to step up and secure their spots for next season.
