The Tigers had a full roster of games against the Hinterland Blues at the Den this weekend with the main game in the Hart Sport Cup QFA Division 1 at 2pm yesterday.
The Blues are packed with talent and have been giving the competition plenty to think about all year so despite the Tigers good recent form there was no room for complacency. The Blues boast some big bodies and plenty of handy skills which were on show yesterday from the opening bounce.
The first term was a bruising period where both sides threw everything at each other with both midfields getting into the action but the defence was solid at either end.
The Tigers defence has been a feature this year and once again James Stolz led the way with another composed performance while Jeremy Duck and Will Brohm were creative setting the Tigers up for plenty of rebound action. Daniel Schmidt has settled into his new role as the tall key defender taking plenty of intercept marks to play an important role. It was a team effort in the men’s department all day as they held league leading Blues goal kicker Rhys Magin to just two majors while the strong marking Thomas Wischnat could only register one for the day albeit his radar was not working as it usually does. The Tigers would be well pleased with their back six.
The term concluded with the Tigers taking a one goal lead after a very tense period with the Blues looking very dangerous.
It was however a different story in the second term as the Tigers got off the leash to kick six goals with Ryan Doolan and Zac McLean working beautifully together taking full advantage of the effort from the Tigers midfield. Doolan was marking everything to be a real handful going on to kick six while Skipper McLean was creative as usual giving directions and making sure structures were in place as he helped himself to another five goals to go on from his haul last week.
The Tigers midfield feasted on the work of big man Jamie Ivers as he dominated the ruck. Beau Harris and Eddie Mallan broke packs open and tackled themselves to a standstill to be prime movers for the home side.
The Tigers looked to have the game sewn up at the main break with a seven goal lead after the onslaught of the second term but the Blues weren’t done yet.
The Tigers started the term well with two goals to Ryan Doolan but the Blues rattled on four quick goals to bring the game back to life and give the Tigers something to think about. It was short lived though with the Tigers responding with five straight, three to Zac McLean to snuff out any thoughts of a comeback. Ryan Eyles got into the action as well playing the perfect support role he has played all year in the forward half.
The Tigers let the foot off the accelerator in the last term but they had done all the damage already to win the game in a strong display across the group.
The competition will enjoy a mid season break next weekend with the annual Intrastate game being played at Bond University on Saturday.
The Tigers will play Coorparoo the following week in a top of the table clash. The Tigers and Kings are on equal points but the Kings have jumped into top spot on percentage on the back of a mauling of the Beenleigh Buffaloes yesterday. The Tigers beat the Kings in the Anzac Day game so they will be spoiling to get one back as they look to show their credentials to join the QAFL in 2025.
Scores: Mayne 17.9.111 d Hinterland 8.12.60 Goals: R Doolan 6, Z McLean 5, R Eyles 2, J Duck, D Saunders, L Quin, D Athanasellis 1. Best: J Ivers, R Doolan, Z McLean, J Duck, D Schmidt, J Stolz.
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