Tigers roar back on to winners list

After two losses and two byes in the last four weeks the Tigers were very keen to get back into action and show the form needed to prove to the doubters that they still have what it takes to be a force in the QFA Division 1 finals this year as they hosted the Moreton Bay Lions at the Den.

It has been a while since they experienced a win and what better game than for Zach Quin’s 100th senior appearance for the club. It has been a while coming with Quinny taking a mid season break to go to the World Cup missing several games in the process. He was back for the Caloundra game and kicked six goals in a losing side but was very pumped to play this one and it showed right from the first ball up.

Little brother Louis was also keen to get into the family action as the two went to work together to set the scene for a big day. Louis was in middle to start the game to create a quick entry with big brother Zach on the end of the play to take a strong mark and finish with the opening goal in the first minute of play.

The Tigers set about accumulating a handy lead with some creative work from Nick Galvin around the fifty as he helped himself to two goals for the first term while Jasper Craven was damaging out of the middle.

The Moreton Bay Lions were doing their best to limit the the Tigers onslaught as they worked to contain them around the middle. It was a very good contest between the big men with the Tigers Jamie Ivers doing battle with the Lions Darcy Kendall in the ruck as they went head to head all day. Ivers was a major force for the Tigers around the ground with his marking and interception work important to the team’s defence at critical times.

Quin finished the first term with two goals as well as creating opportunities for others in a frenetic start to his game while the team went into the break with a twenty seven point lead and the momentum.

The Tigers increased the pressure in the second term to kick five goals to nil and could have made it even more difficult for the Lions had they kicked straight with a few set shots going astray in the blustery conditions. The Tigers were finding plenty of avenues to goal with the majors shared around including a big bomb from Ben Buhler from the fifty on the boundary to close out the term.

The Lions were unable to hit the scoreboard in the second term with the Tigers defence impenetrable. Daniel Schmidt was leading the way while Kyle Henry was taking some impressive overhead marks and hitting some punishing spoils. It was good to see James Stolz back in action as his poise under fire had been missed in recent weeks. The same could be said for the unassuming Noah Breen. Alex Craigie had a day out as well to be in the Tigers’ best.

The Lions went into the main break spitting fire after a small skirmish broke out which could be put down to frustration but to their credit they came out after half time to push back and create some impressive attack. They recorded two much needed goals to Jaiden Paddy and Bayden Goff while holding the Tigers to just four in a solid quarter.

The return of Casey Burger for the Tigers added plenty of spark as well to the group while Jack Collings was once again a solid performer for the Tigers.

The Tigers resolve to play four good quarters of footy after the form of recent weeks held true for the last period with a very strong finish kicking six goals while holding the Lions to just two points.

Zach Quin capped off a great 100th game with the last two goals of the game to finish with seven for the day and thirteen in two weeks upon his return from his sabbatical. Brother Louis should be pleased with his performance as well helping to celebrate the occasion.

The Tigers will have yet another bye next week as the quirks of the seven team competition continue to play out and then play the final four games in succession. It will be a solid run home with three of the four games against the other top four teams and three of them on the road.

Scores: Mayne 21.15.141 d Moreton Bay 4.4.28

Goals:  Zac Quin 7, Zac McLean 3, Jasper Craven, Nick Galvin, Ben Buhler 2, Xavier Craven, Casey Burger, Rhys Syrett, Pat Glass 1.

Best: Louis Quin, Zac Quin, Jasper Craven, Jamie Ivers, Casey Burger, Alex Craigie.