History beckons for Tigers

Redcliffe Tigers will be chasing a remarkable double double in the QFA Grand Finals this weekend.

Tigers’ Senior Men and Reserves have already won Minor Premierships, each by eight points with identical records from the 18-round season.

On Sunday, both sides will head to Sandgate aiming for a QFA Division Two North Grand Final double to go with their Minor Premierships.

History shows the last time Tigers’ Senior Men and Reserves both topped their ladders and made grand finals in the same season was 2002 – when both won!

Tigers’ Seniors face Kenmore (2pm), who finished third on the ladder but have won elimination, semi and preliminary Finals to make the grand finaL.

Redcliffe's Reserves face regular season runners-up Alexandra Hills (11am), who they beat in the semis but then qualified from the preliminary final.

“This is the place everyone wants to be – the grand finals,” Tigers' Seniors Coach Barry O’Brien said, “if you’re not there, you’re jealous of those who are!

“Both teams have had a really strong year and gelled well. One of our biggest strengths has been the depth across the teams.

“We have been very lucky with injuries, but when players have stepped up they have done well.”

Tigers’ Senior Men lost one game in the regular season, to Kedron in Round 15 and beat Alexandra Hills, who finished second, in the semi-finals.

The Reserves also lost once in the regular season, to Alexandra Hills in Round One, but have remained unbeaten ever since.

“At the end of a season you want to be inform,” O’Brien said, “and both our teams are the form sides of their competitions.

“The reserves may have lost their first game but have really built from there and are in good stead for the weekend.

“We’re not changing anything at this stage. Just working on taking that form into those four quarters on Sunday.”

Tigers’ Senior Men last made a grand final in 2012 and lifted the SEQAFL Division Three title. The Reserves last grand final  was in 2018 as QFA Division Three Premiers.

The senior sides follow Tigers’ Under 13 Mixed Division Two and Mixed Division Five sides which have already won grand finals is month.

Then Division Two side comfortably beat Grange 4.7-31 to 0.2-2, while the Division Five team saw off Aspley 7.3-45 to 3.2-20.

Both are coached by Aaron Roche and Joel Lansky, who are also part of the senior set-up, but give support the juniors and described as “great club volunteers”.