Published in the Daily Mercury on 29-Feb-2016
Bakers Creek Tigers have gone from winning the wooden spoon in 2015 to winning the AFL pre-season carnival.
The event was held in Airlie Beach at the weekend and saw the Tigers stay undefeated through the entire carnival. According to Tiger's player Jeff Neumann the event was a successful event despite the heat on the day.
"The heat was definitely an issue although everyone did well to deal with it," he said.
"This was a good opportunity for all the AFL clubs,
In the region to dust off the cobwebs and play some footy."
All teams in the region began their pre-season in November, Ahead of their round one games commencing April 2. Neumann and the Tiger's will face the Whitsunday Sea eagles in their first game of the season.
"Winning this carnival is a boost for us and we need to keep focused moving forward," he said.
"As a team we have struggled the last few years in the competition,
And I think that is what has built a winning culture around the team."
Neumann attributes the teams improvement to everyone involved from players to the coaches.
"It was a combined effort by the team and the coaching of Ash Ryan and Pat Sowersby has really turned this team around," he said.
This years AFL competition will be competitive according to Neumann.
"Last years competition was basically a two horse race between Swans and the Hawks," he said.
"This carnival gave every team the opportunity to size each other up,
There were some really competitive games so I expect that will be a trend this season."
Neumann is also the Regional Director for AFL in Mackay and believes this event is a boost for the sport as a whole.
"You have everyone supporting the event through competing and the spectators so that generates interest," he said.
"This is beneficial across the board and from a junior perspective as well."
Moving forward this season Neumann wants his team to secure the top spot at the end of the season.
"If we can get the win at the end of the year that would be a fairytale ending for us as a team,"
Neumann is looking ahead to this weekends NAB challenge game between the Brisbane Lions and St Kilda.
"We are going to have two first grade teams battling each other right here in Mackay," he said.
AFL Mackay facts
Last year's wooden spoon winners.
Undefeated in pre-season carnival.
Mackay AFL competition to begin April 2.
NAB challenge game to take place March 6 at Harrup Park.
Last Modified on 07/04/2016 16:01