The 2026 QFA Division 1 Draw is live

The long pre-season is progressing well with the Tigers at all levels working through a punishing process to be ready for the 2026 season.

The QFA Division 1 Tigers are doing all in their power to be ready to defend their title as the reigning premiers with a third consecutive trophy on the line. The Tigers completed a three peat ten years ago in 2016 and the current crop of Tigers are desperate to emulate their predecessors who will be celebrating a big anniversary this season.

There are four remaining Tigers players from that 2016 group in Jack Collings, Zac McLean, Jack Coghlan and finally Jasper Craven who comes back into the fold this year after stints at Aspley and Wangaratta Magpies who will all want to complete the three peat. The current Tigers Coach Jack Gartlan was also a playing member of that winning combination.

This version of the Tigers is one of the youngest premiership teams the club has ever fielded led by Ryan Doolan and Louie Quin along with Duncan McCabe, Digby Morison, Hayden Fry, Hayden Rainbow as well as the inclusion of Rhys Syrett all providing the youthful zip required.

The Tigers young defence led by James Stolz and Kyle Henry were impenetrable last year and will once again be key to the club’s chances. Zac Quin and Beau Harris will once again be important to the Tigers centre clearances working with rucks Jamie Ivers and Daniel Schmidt.

The Tigers forward line also boasts some handy firepower in Eddie Mallan, Nick Galvin and Casey Barber in and around Ryan Doolan and Zac Mclean.

The 2026 QFA Division 1 Draw was released this week with the same seven teams competing for the honours as in 2025. The clubs are once again Mayne, Caloundra, Hinterland, Moreton Bay, Sandgate, Springwood and University of Queensland.

The Tigers will play their Grand Final opponents the Springwood Pumas in Round 1 at the Den on Saturday 11th April with the 2025 flag to be unfurled. The Pumas will be desperate to exact revenge on the Tigers after going so close in the decider in 2025.

The Pumas always recruit well and are consistently dangerous every season so the Tigers will once again have their hands full against the wounded Puma. They have recently recruited South Australian product Teejay Halkias, a strong-bodied, skilful and hard-running midfielder, who brings quality experience and competitiveness to their Senior midfield group.

Round 2 brings one of four byes for the season which is a quirk of the seven team competition. The Tigers will host the Sandgate Hawks in Round 3 in the Anzac Day Round. The Hawks will be looking to make some big strides on their 2025 debut into this competition.

Jack Collings won the inaugural Paul Meakin John Stackpoole Medal in the 2025 Anzac Day game while the Tigers won the first Mayne Sandgate Anzac Day Shield. The Tigers will be very keen to retain the Shield while the proud Hawks will want to claim this honour.

The Tigers will host the Hinterland Blues in Round 8 on 30th May for Reunion Day with the awarding of the Mick Nolan Medal a feature of the weekend. Ryan Doolan won the Medal in 2025 and will be a strong contender again this year.

The Hinterland Blues have lost their two time Duncanson League Best and Fairest Medallist in Tom Wischnat making a significant difference but they always recruit well and will once again be hard to beat especially at Palmwoods.

The draw encompasses sixteen games from twenty rounds with the Tigers playing Sandgate and Moreton Bay twice and the other four teams three times.

The season will wrap up for the Tigers with two away games against Caloundra and University with the last game being Saturday 22nd August.

The finals will once again be a final four contest over three weekends commencing on 29th August with the Grand Final on Saturday 12th September 2026.

The QFA Division 1 Reserves have a new mentor in 2026 with Daniel Schmidt taking the reigns for the first time after an injury interrupted season in 2025. He is coming in boots and all this year to take a key position in the seniors as well as lead a young and emerging reserves group. He will be supported by Seb Shaw and Haydn Petersen. The group will retain some considerable experience to complement the youth with Danny Evans, Tim Lyons, Andy Tydink and the evergreen Club games record holder Andrew Housego also tearing up the track this pre-season. A new crop of Everton Wolves are working hard to be ready for their debut with the Tigers.

The Seniors and Reserves will play QFA Division 2 Club and old rivals Kedron in practice matches on the 7th March at Kedron at 3pm and 5pm respectively in their first hit outs for the year.

They also have a six quarter trial game against Wynnum on the 21st March at Wynnum.

The Thirds have had their most solid pre-season on record after a great 2025 season. They have over 25 players regularly at training and look ready to go. Coaches Murray Laing and Jake Magill have been very pleased with the work undertaken so far and will be very keen to see them under fire.

They play Coorparoo on Friday night 6th March at 7.30pm at the Den in a much anticipated practice match to gauge progress.

The draw for the Thirds is still a work in progress.

The Womens team have been working hard in thier pre-season building on some wonderful progress made in 2025. Coach Tom Hughes has been excited by the numbers at training and the significant improvement in skills and fitness making for a very productive period.

The Womens team have also seen a very exciting surge in experienced players joining the group. Tianna Peters  joins the Tigers from the Jindalee Jaguars while Jordan Walker and Kristanna Sutton transfer in from Mt Gravatt and Brittainie Geoffrey from the Morningside Panthers to bolster the team.

The Tigers have retained their best talent with best and fairest pair Dakodah Cott and Zoe Bourne looking to lead the group along with Rhianna Meehan and Amelia Weddell.

The Womens draw is still in development and will be released as soon as possible.

There is still time for anyone looking to join the Tigers and be part of another big year. 

For all enquiries regarding playing for the Tigers in 2026, please email to president@maynetigers.com.au

Contacts for Coaches areSeniors—Jack Gartlan 0403 467 958Reserves—Daniel Schmidt 0402 698 035Thirds—Murray Laing 0468 623 650Thirds—Jake Magill 0431 842 863Womens—Tom Hughes 0414 960 783