The Tigers and Kings fought out an old fashioned scrap to the death fitting of the two historical rival clubs yesterday at Mott Street with the home side kicking the winning goal after the siren.
Young gun Ryan Doolan pulled down a pack mark seconds before the siren sounded and coolly went back to slot the kick through the middle with the maturity of the most seasoned veteran to see the ground erupt with supporters streaming onto the ground in unbridled jubilation.
The Kings have had the measure of the Tigers all season but the home side had a well thought out plan for the ladder leaders which saw them starved of opportunities. The Tigers defence was rock solid with the Kings held to just one goal up the last few minutes of the second quarter in an enthralling contest.
It was a low scoring affair from the outset before the Kings kicked three goals in quick succession in the red period of the second quarter to send a shiver through the Tiger supporters. The Kings took a five point lead to the main break and looked to be about the break loose.
The Tigers were missing their big man in Daniel Schmidt out with the dreaded Covid but it was time for another young man to step up and that he did. Hayden Fry at just seventeen was terrific in the ruck and around the ground as he put on a dominant display giving the Tigers plenty of new ball. Fry’s little brother Tom wasn’t about to be out done either as he also took on players well beyond his years to create havoc up and down his side of the ground.
The Tigers welcomed back Jack Collings into vintage form in the middle as he gets back to customary form after his long layoff. Collings in and under work was as good as we have seen from the four time Club Champion and it couldn’t come at a better time for the club. Collings and his Club Captain mate Zac McLean shared the ball around at times holding the game up and controlling momentum to perfection.
However, it was the defence led by Dean Hartley that the win was built on with Jono Skippen also back in the men’s department providing a strong base.
The Kings star recruit Matt Suckling was clever with his skills a spectical, while their speedster Shayle Korander was threatening at times but the Tigers were relentless in their chase from Mitch Bruce and Ryan Eyles.
The Tigers went into the last quarter a goal in front but the Kings came out firing to get to a ten point lead but the home side was far from done as they narrowed the margin to four points with minutes to go and then retained the momentum. A towering kick into the forward half, a spectacular mark from Doolan and history was made.
The top half of the ladder is a logjam now with the Kings on 42, Caloundra 38, Mayne 34 and Beenleigh on 32 points and three exciting rounds to go. The Tigers play Beenleigh next week in another must win game.
Scores: Mayne 8.5.53 d Coorparoo 7.9.51 Goals: R Doolan 4, J Gartlan, C Caught, Z McLean, S Miletic 1. Best: H Fry, R Doolan, T Fry, Z McLean, D Hartley, T Barr
