Tigers finish strong to overcome feisty Panthers

The Tigers welcomed the Caloundra Panthers to the Den yesterday in a much anticipated contest. The Panthers have had a good start to their season with a fifty percent win loss record as they sit in third position on the ladder.

The Tigers were missing five of their best players with much anticipated nuptials being celebrated yesterday. A big congratulations to Jack Coghlan marrying long time sweetheart Lucy Coogan. This also meant the Craven boys, Xavier and Jasper would miss the game while the experienced hands of Jack Collings and Zac McLean would also take the week off in quite a slice of talent away. Add Beau Harris to the group and the Tigers were looking to their young brigade to show their wares.

However, in came Eddie Mallan and Harry McInnes for their first games for 2026 and things didn’t look too bad. The Panthers were missing a few as well so it shaped as a great contest.

The Panthers drew first blood with Geelong Cats recruit Tom Ruggles kicking the first goal of the game and he looked in ominous form after kicking a minor score earlier. The Tigers were able to respond soon after with Harry McInnes getting on the end of a clever chain of play.

The Tigers slowly accumulated a steady start with McInnes playing the missing part of McLean while Ryan Doolan and Zac Quin were dangerous as always and Nick Galvin being creative. Doolan finished with two for the term as did Ruggles for the Panthers.

The Tigers had slipped out to a three goal lead and looked to have the game under control.

The second term saw the Panthers rally to take their game up a gear playing some very exciting football. They were setting up well around the contest and creating some trouble for the Tigers as they opened the game up through the middle.

The Tigers ruck Jamie Ivers was having a classic clash with the Panthers man mountain Max Jacobson as they fought it out in the centre and around the ground. Ivers in the end was the Tigers best as he contributed in the air and at ground level. The Panthers Dean Waugh was very creative giving the Tigers plenty to think about.

The Panthers won the quarter by a small margin and were looking to take the game right up the home team.

However, the Tigers must have got the staminade formula just right at the major break as they came out firing in the premiership quarter to take the game right away from the Panthers with six unanswered goals. The Panthers were under immense pressure at the other end kicking just five minor scores.

The Tigers midfield led by youngsters Rhys Syrett and Duncan McCabe were dominant as they created fast opportunities for the Tigers to score. They were involved in one of the most exciting pieces of play you would see at any level of football as they created a handball chain from coast to coast with Ryan Doolan on the end which was likely to shatter the Panthers resolve.

The Tigers backline was impenetrable with the Panthers only able to kick two goals for the second half with Casey Barber and Zac Puncken starting numerous attacking raids from the back half. James Stolz and Kyle Henry shut down the airspace to give the Panthers little room to return fire.

Digby Morison had a day out kicking three goals for the Tigers from the wing as he raced away to kick truly.

The Panthers did not give in as they soldiered on in the last term to kick two goals but missed a number of very important set shots to make the score differential worse than it might have been.

The Tigers take on the UQ Red Lions next week with both sides unbeaten at this stage. The Red Lions beat the Springwood Pumas yesterday at Lowe Oval in a vital win for them.

Scores: Mayne 17.10.112 d Caloundra 7.18.60

Goals:  Ryan Doolan, Harry McInnes 4, Zac Quin, Digby Morison 3, Ben Wilkinson, Alex Craigie, Casey Burger 1.

Best: Jamie Ivers, Digby Morison, Casey Barber, Rhys Syrett, Zac Puncken, Duncan McCabe.