Griggs gets his chance

Injuries robbed him of the opportunity to play representative footy while coming through the junior ranks.

So there was never any doubt Queanbeyan Tigers midfielder Will Griggs was going to take his opportunity to turn out for the NEAFL Eastern Conference this weekend and run with it.

Griggs will be one of four Queanbeyan players to line up for the representative side against Tasmania at Skoda Stadium in Sydney on Saturday.

Griggs will join fellow Tigers young guns Sam Jensen, Steve Jolliffe and Kaine Stevens in the side.

Queanbeyan captain/coach Kade Klemke, midfielder Toby Conroy and forward James Kavanagh were all also chosen in this year’s side but ruled themselves out of contention.

Jeremy Kirkwood, meanwhile, picked up a hamstring injury against Eastlake on Sunday and is unlikely to take his place in the team. 

For Griggs however, Saturday’s clash will mark his representative debut.

It continues an impressive rise through the NEAFL ranks over the past two years after the 22-year-old was named in the last year’s NEAFL Eastern Conference team of the year.

“I’ve never done much rep stuff at all in the past so it’s pretty exciting to get an opportunity,” Griggs said. “I had a few injuries when I was younger so I never got to play for the [NSW/ACT] Rams or anything like that.

“I know a few of the other blokes were looking forward to having a week off but I’m pretty keen to give it a crack.”

Griggs has been one of the Tigers’ best so far this season and was one of Queanbeyan’s shining lights in the side’s 86-point loss to VFL heavyweights Werribee at Etihad Stadium last week.

In NEAFL action, the Tigers have the bye this weekend following last Sunday’s 17 point defeat at the hands of Eastlake.

Queanbeyan has now gone without a win since the side’s round six victory over Tuggeranong in March.