Stevens shines over AFL Talent
By Todd Davey
It’s Sunday afternoon at Manuka Oval, first versus second played off for the ultimate prize in the NEAFL Eastern Conference.
The two standouts of the East squaring off on a perfect Canberra afternoon, the Sydney Swans with their imposing roster of AFL-listed talent, or the world beating Queanbeyan Tigers, who defied all odds to finish on top of the Eastern Conference ladder after failing to make the finals the year before.
Queanbeyan, for all their progress this year failed to secure a win against their Sydney counterparts in any of their meetings throughout the season, unable to get within six goals of the AFL-affiliated juggernaut. So when the Swans skipped out to a three goal lead midway through the second quarter, and threatened to tear the game wide open, the Tigers needed someone to step up.
Enter Kaine Stevens.
The ex-TAC Cup GIANT had been a star all year for the Tigers, kicking goals at will and setting up attacks from the centre of the ground, but when Queanbeyan desperately needed someone to play it hard and tough, win the ball and use it to their advantage it was Stevens who not only arrested momentum back to yellow-and-black, but set the example for his team to follow for the rest of the afternoon.
Most of the prolific ball-winners 30+ possessions were to his team’s advantage, and through sheer will, determination, selflessness and sacrifice, the Tigers were able to trump the Swans and end a 12 year premiership drought in one of the most hotly contested flag battles in recent memory.
Even when it looked likely that the game was slipping away in the final quarter when the Swans started to get a run on with Trent Dennis-Lane booting his fourth and fifth goal for the game, threatening to single-handedly take the premiership back with him to Sydney, Steven’s influence in the middle of the ground gave his rookie Coach Kade Klemke the faith needed to put himself on the dangerous Sydney forward, with the knowledge that Stevens would not let his Coach down.
The move proved to be match winning as Dennis-Lane’s influence was completely quelled and Stevens played a hand in Queanbeyan’s barnstorming last quarter surge that ultimately kept the cup out of Sydney.
Steven’s influence was telling, and he was a worthy recipient of the Alex Jesaulenko medal for best afield in the Grand Final. Few who had the privilege of witnessing his game would argue against this and just maybe he could have left a few in the crowd asking, did he slip through the GIANTS fingers?
Photo by Ben Southall