Tigers in second three peat

The Mayne Tigers and UQ Red Lions met yesterday in the Hart Sport QFA Division 1 Grand Final at Hickey Park in a much anticipated game which everyone predicted would be very close given the season both clubs have enjoyed.

The two clubs had played off four times with the Tigers holding a three to one advantage but with all but one of the games settled within a few goals. The Tigers prevailed in the Semi Final by just fifteen points with a late surge.

The Grand Final scene was set in perfect conditions with mild temperature and light winds.

The Tigers were chasing their third consecutive premiership and were primed for the occasion with a good week on the track and everyone fit and ready to go after a couple of injury scares and a visit to the tribunal.

It was all Tigers from the first ball up with Louis Quin and Beau Harris taking advantage of the ruck work of Jamie Ivers to get numerous centre clearances.

Ryan Doolan was on the board within minutes of the start of the game with a strong mark and goal while Jasper Craven chimed in after a period of hard work from both teams with a miraculous dribble goal from the pocket to indicate everything was going the Tigers way.

Doolan kicked his second from another strong mark as the quarter went into red time which was again followed by a clever goal from Jasper Craven in broken play to see the Tigers with four unanswered goals. The deficit could have been greater but for a few missed shots as the UQ Red Lions struggled to penetrate the Tigers blanket defence.

Down back the men’s department had everything under control with Daniel Schmidt, Kyle Henry and James Stolz controlling the air while Casey Barber, Noah Breen, Digby Morison and Alex Craigie controlled the ground ball to see the Tigers back into attack. Barber was especially dangerous cutting through the middle of the ground to have the Red Lions on the back foot as the ball speared forward.

The Tigers had brought the heat for the first term and took full advantage to go to a four goal lead at the first break.

It was more of the same in the second as they maintained their relentless pressure to have the Red Lions all at sea which was right out of character.

There was a great contest going on between the two ruckman in Jamie Ivers from Mayne and Jared Gluch from the Red Lions in the ball ups but around the ground both were very effective in the air as they each got behind the ball to intercept. However the Tigers pressure was building on the Red Lions such that they could not get their normal game going.

Ryan Doolan was on the board again to start the second term before Zac Quin and Zac McLean both joined the party.

The Tigers moved Jack Collings to the wing and once again his experience, composure and strength came to the fore as he helped control the middle of the ground. Collings has been a club general for years with his commanding actions and voice critical to the Tigers success.

The Tigers went to the main break with a nine goal lead and the Red Lions scrambling to work out how they could get into the game having scored just one major at that point as the Tigers dominated all over the park.

The main break brought little respite for the Red Lions as the Tigers came out to continue the pressure rating and kick further away.

The Red Lions managed a second goal in the third term but it was all over for their tilt at the premiership by the time the third term siren sounded.

The Tigers released their pressure in the last term to allow the UQ Red Lions kick six goals to two but it was all too late as the clock wound down to see the Mayne Football Club record it’s second three peat performance since 2016.

It will be a performance to be savoured for some time. The Tigers were once again very happy that this period has been built on young local boys. The Tigers team had five former Mayne Juniors and ten Everton Juniors in the team. The remainder were also mostly other local lads with the team only recording a remarkable 23 out of a possible 45 player points.

Zac Quin was awarded the Best on Ground Medal by former Tiger Caleb Brown, himself a dual winner of this medal while Nettie Nolan presented the winning Coach’s medal.

Scores: Mayne 15.15105 d UQ 8.11.59

Goals:  Ryan Doolan 4, Jasper Craven, Zac Quin 3, Zac Puncken, Nick Galvin, Zac McLean, Duncan McCabe, Louis Quin, Alex Craigie 1.

Best: Zac Quin, Jamie Ivers, Noah Breen, Louis Quin, Casey Barber, Jack Collings.