Tigers secure 2025 Grand Final Berth

The Tigers hosted the Springwood Pumas at the Den yesterday in the Hart Sport QFA Division 1 Qualifying Final with the winner to go into the Grand Final.

The Tigers have now played the Pumas on five occasions this year including a practice match and as most recently as last week in the final round of the home and away season so the two clubs are very familiar with each other.

It was unfortunately another game where the weather would play some part. It has been a very wet winter with many games affected but yesterday it was the late Ekka winds that arrived just for Saturday football. It was a blustery day with some gusts reaching 60km/hr.

The Tigers have beaten the Pumas on every occasion this year by a significant margin but this was the first time that the visitors were able to field their strongest team. The Pumas are a proud group who have many talented players who can change a game so the Tigers were not going to take them lightly despite the record this year.

The game got underway with the winds peaking but not really favouring either end as it blasted across the ground and swirled around. It was five minor scores shared between the two teams before the Tigers Ryan Doolan kicked the first goal to get the game properly under way. Zac McLean was into the action shortly after with a clever goal before the midfield duo of Louis Quin and Zac Puncken each kicked the Tigers to a handy quarter time lead. Quin roved a stoppage to perfection and cut a swathe through the Pumas defence to kick an excellent goal while Puncken kicked a booming punt from outside the fifty.

The Tigers were well pleased with their start but with the Pumas ball winners Jai Keneally and Rowan Page getting busy the game was still up for grabs.

The game settled into a back and forth affair in the second term with the Pumas able to defend grimly as the Tigers pushed forward with Jamie Ivers and Tex Korewha creating opportunities for their followers. Duncan McCabe continued his stellar debut season form in the middle as he accumulated possessions at will to be a real problem for the Pumas.

Nick Galvin has been an unsung revelation for the Tigers as a mid sized forward who creates plenty of opportunities for his more fancied team mates. He set the Tigers alight in the second term with a handy goal while helping Zac Quin and Zac McLean to kick the scoreboard along.

The Pumas veteran journeyman Dylan Reid was keeping them in the game with some strong marking and kicking for goal to finish with four for the day in a fair effort considering the pressure he was under from the Tigers. As usual it was a team effort in the men’s department with Noah Breen and Aidan Williams creating plenty of rebound while James Stolz was poised as usual. Kyle Henry was strong in the air in the last line while he used his powerful kick to advantage when the wind complied.

The Tigers had accumulated a seven goal advantage at the main break to have the Pumas once again on the back foot, however they came out firing in the third term to kick the first two before the Tigers regained control.

Tex Korewha was very effective up front as a tall target kicking three goals but also bullocking his way through packs to be creative for the dangerous trio of McLean, Doolan and Quin.

The Tigers ran out the game kicking six goals in the last term to go into the 2025 Grand Final and a chance to go back to back. They will wait the winner of Springwood and the UQ Red Lions who just got over a determined Hinterland in the Elimination Final.

Scores: Mayne 15.14.104 d Springwood 6.7.43

Goals:  Zac Quin 4, Tex Korewha 3, Z McLean, R Doolan 2, Z Puncken, Nick Galvin, Louis Quin, Duncan McCabe 1.

Best: Zac Puncken, Duncan McCabe, Tex Korewha, Aidan Williams, Noah Breen, Hayden Fry.