TIGERS CLUB NEWS ARCHIVE

TIGERS NEW CAPTAIN ANNOUNCED
Saturday 26th March 2005

The Tigers have announced a new Captain for Season 2005

Coach Mark Armstrong canvassed the players on their recent Players Development Camp to the South Coast with the result that from the player’s leadership group, Renee Ioppi was announced at Monday Night’s training session as the Tigers Captain for 2005.

Captain of the past three seasons, veteran Jason Gilbert (who announced his retirement at the conclusion of last season and recently decided that he had at least one more season in his old legs) stood down after guiding the Tigers to the last three Grand Finals.

Unfortunately for Gilbo as Captain, the Tigers succumbed to the power of the Belconnen Magpies in all three premiership deciders, but he gained success as a player in four previous deciders, namely 1991, 1998, 1999 and 2000. His total of eleven grand final appearances for the Tigers is a record for the Club and probable for any player in the League.

Renee Ioppi is no stranger to Grand Finals either, having been a participant of six with the Tigers at 1st Grade level with success in the triple premiership teams of 1998, 1999 and 2000. He represented the Tigers in the 2002 Reserve Grade Grand Final decider and then the past three years of 1st grade grand finals.

In 1996, Renne was a member of the powerful NSW ACT RAMS Under 18 Grade team which contested the TAC Cup Grand Final as the curtain raiser to the AFL Grand Final at the MCG in front of 50,000 people.

A product of the Tigers Juniors, Renee has won near all Best and Fairest Awards of each of the Junior team grades and last year finally played his 100th First Grade match for the Club, gaining induction into the prestigious 100 Club at the annual dinner. Injury prevented this happening in prior years.

His powerful body strength has been the backbone for many seasons of the Clubs defence. On numerous occasions he has been moved into the engine room to assert his authority and has done so with maturity. His spontaneous and jovial manner endures him to many of the younger players in the Club and for this he will be an accomplished Captain for the Tigers Club.

The Senior Grade Squad fairly bristles with former Captains with current Coach Mark Armstrong occupying the position for a period of two season (2000 – 2001), Michael Goiser for a period of four (1997 – 1999) and obviously Gilbo (2002 – 2004). The Tigers Official Runner for Season 2005 – Club Legend Tony Wynd held the Captaincy for 8 years (1988 – 1995).