THE Queanbeyan Tigers will again look for improved structure in the North-Eastern Australian Football League this weekend when they return home to take on Belconnen at Dairy Farmers Oval on Saturday.
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They suffered their second loss in as many starts to kick-off the season, with a 137-point hammering against the Sydney Swans reserves at the Blacktown International Sports Park last Sunday.
The 23-goal 167 to 30 defeat came after a 72-point defeat to Sydney University the week before, with the side now under pressure having to address concerns on the field early in the season.
Former Tigers star Kaine Stevens said the side had drawn a tough two games to start the season, and that they would improve with time once their new young players settled in.
"They've also had some key injuries to two of their mid-fielders in Ben King and Will Griggs- their probably two of their best players," he said.
"They're probably just finding their feet a little bit. Sydney Uni recruited pretty well and that was probably a wake up for the Tigers in the first round...but playing the Swans in Sydney- it's such a hard game and it's hard to take anything out of that."
Stevens played 60 games for the Queanbeyan Tigers in the NEAFL from 2011 to 2013 and now plays for West Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League where the 22-year old hopes to eventually attract an AFL draft.
He was a part of the 2012 team that won the NEAFL eastern conference title under the coaching of current co-coach Kade Klemke, and said the playing squad was also similar that season.
He said this meant they would quickly find form again against the Belconnen Magpies who should provide a better chance at a win having been winless themselves so far this season.
"This week will be good, and afterwards you'll get a better idea of where they're really at," he said.
"Hopefully the young boys will show they have the depth to be competitive.