Tigers go back to back

The Tigers met the Springwood Pumas yesterday in the Hart Sport QFA Division 1 Seniors Grand Final to battle it out for their fifth official encounter this year. The Tigers had pounded the Pumas in each of the last four games including a ten goal win in the semi final. Despite this incredible back story the Tigers knew that the Pumas would bring plenty of heat into the big game given their extensive experience and big game players.

Both teams started the game with their best lists and with the Pumas having just won the Reserve Grade Premiership there was plenty of momentum and feeling exuding from them that this could be their day.

The game got off to a quick start with the Tigers Zac Quin taking a one handed mark in goal kicking range which he duly completed to have the Mayne boys up and about early. Hayden Rainbow charged through the pack off the wing to kick the Tigers second moments later to really charge the air and with another from the next centre clearance to Beau Harris the Tigers were flying.

The Pumas were scrambling to get their game going and with some good fortune they were awarded a free kick on the clubhouse wing with a fifty metre penalty for someone entering the protected zone it was off to the goal square and their first goal which they desperately needed to slow the Tigers momentum and get on the board.

The Pumas power forward Dylan Reid marked a quick centre clearance moments later which he duly converted to narrow the margin and the contest was officially well and truly underway.

It was the Tigers turn to rally and with a big collision in the goal square Eddie Mallan was awarded a free kick from which he played on and goaled to wrest the momentum back again. The Pumas lost Toby Marks in the collision for the remainder of the game.

The Tigers finished the term with a big set shot goal from youngster Duncan McCabe who was one of their best for the day. The Tigers held a three goal lead at the first break and looked to have the game relatively under control but things were to change dramatically.

The Tigers got off to a quick start with Zac Quin kicking the first goal of the term once again but it was all Pumas from that moment as they dominated the centre bounces with Brandon Stewart and Rowan Page putting all of their experience to great effect and with ex Werribee recruit Harry King also getting into the action the Tigers backline were under huge pressure with the ball coming in hot.

The Pumas experienced forwards in Reid, Kenneally and Friis all got on the end of some quality entries to convert and feast. The Pumas supporters were all out of their seats with nobody believing this could be happening given the Tigers dominance all season.

The Tigers very young backline held up very well considering the pressure they were under with Noah Breen showing poise well beyond his tender years while James Stolz and Kyle Henry were leading the way. Hayden Fry had his hands full with Dylan Reid but he maintained his composure to keep the Tigers in the game.

The Pumas went to the main break with an eight point lead but they seemed to have wrested the control of the game from the Tigers.

It was time for some cool heads to prevail and some considered words from the Tigers mentors which has been a feature of their wonderful leadership for the last two years. There was no cause for panic.

The Pumas started off well again in the third term with Reid taking two big marks which he converted before the Tigers Tex Korewha kicked a much needed goal. The Pumas Jai Kenneally kicked a huge set shot goal from outside the fifty in return to have the Pumas pumped for more but the Tigers settled the remainder of the quarter finishing with a goal to Ryan Doolan on the bell to keep the Pumas within striking distance.

A big band of Tigers swamped the final huddle of the season with everyone willing their team on to have one last big effort and push. Tigers Coach Jeremy Watts implored his team to push for the last thirty minutes to bring home the win. It was an impassioned, reasoned and quiet expression of faith in the boys ability to do the job, no yelling, no swearing, just faith.

The Pumas kicked two goals in quick succession which could have broken most teams resolve but not this group.

The Tigers had played their worst two quarters of football in two years but they knew what they were capable of and it just needed someone to ignite the fuse.

It was duly some brilliant work from Louis Quin creating a turnover which he delivered in bullet fashion to Ryan Doolan who managed to break the shackles to take a strong mark under immense pressure which he goaled.

A centre clearance and mark to Tex Korewha just outside the fifty resulted in the big fella kicking a big goal which signalled the fightback was now on.

Korewha was on the end of another one moments later which he duly kicked in metronome fashion and then the Tigers talisman Eddie Mallan kicked another almost a minute later to take the lead for the first time since late in the second quarter.

The Pumas supporters had been loud and proud up to this point but things were now very shaky. It had been a fair but brutally contested game worthy of the best of deciders and the Pumas were down two men by this stage. The Tigers had walking wounded in Casey Barber with his shoulder unable to move while Zac McLean also played the whole game with his hip almost frozen.

The Pumas last roll of the dice saw Greg Friis kick a goal to regain the lead but the Tigers were on their way now storming home with another big mark and goal to Korewaha followed by Ryan Doolan kicking two goals, one from the boundary to ice the game and break the Pumas hearts. They had been incredibly courageous and certainly gave the Tigers a massive scare.

However it was the year of the Tiger once again with the young contingent of boys playing an almost faultless season. There were nine changes from the 2024 Premiership team with seven of them being under twenty three years of age. Overall, there were only two players over thirty years of age in the list making for an exciting prospect for the future.

The Tigers came from twenty three points down to win by thirteen in one of the most exciting grand finals you could hope to watch.

Scores: Mayne 15.10.100 d Springwood 13.9.87

Goals:  Tex Korewha, Ryan Doolan 4, Zac Quin, Eddie Mallan 2, Hayden Rainbow, Duncan McCabe, Beau Harris 1.

Best: Tex Korewha, Duncan McCabe, Louis Quin, Jack Collings, Noah Breen, Beau Harris.