TIGERS CLUB NEWS ARCHIVE

TIGERS NEWS March 2006
Handing over of Number 2

Legend Tony Wynd wore the Tigers Number 2 jumper for a record 347 1st Grade games over a twenty year period. Along the way, he established himself as one of the greatest ever players of the AFL Canberra competition.

He is the only player to have won the prestigious Mulrooney Medal on four occasions and one of the very few players outside the former VFL now AFL competition to be selected in an All Australian Team.

He retired after the 1999 Tigers Premiership team victory having posted a goal with his last kick in the dying minutes of the game. That goal basically won the match for the Tigers and in doing so he gained his sixth premiership medal.

In recognition of his enormous contribution to the Tigers Club, the jumper was retired for the 2000 season but with the return of David Lepavoux to the Tigers from the Sydney Swans list in 2001, the number 2 jumper returned to the playing arena and has since been seen in a further three grand finals – being 2002, 2003 and 2004.

Unfortunately injury prevented “Pav” from taking the field in 2005; hence the number 2 jumper was not seen last year. Its last appearance again being in a grand final.

The jumper is up for grabs in 2006 with David Lepavoux being accepted into the Australian Navy therefore becoming unavailable for the Tigers Club in 2006 after playing 77 1st grade matches for the Tigers.

Who better to be handed the Number 2 Jumper than the son of one of the Clubs all time great coaches Brian Quade who guided the Tigers into nine grand finals during a coaching career with the Club spanning ten seasons. He gained premierships in 1985 (the first in 42 years), 1988,1989 and 1991.

Son Ryan, a premiership player with the Sydney Swans Reserve Grade team last year returns to the Tigers in 2006 and has been given a huge honour of wearing the number 2 jumper. Having watched, Tony Wynd all through his junior years, Ryan believes the task of representing the Tigers in the number 2 jumper is a magnificent honour and is thrilled to have this opportunity.

A natural team leader, Ryan at age 21 is considered highly by club officials and with a total of 60 1st Grade AFL Canberra games – 45 of those with the Tigers – he is a welcome addition to the Tigers growing list of “talls” in this years team.

Pictured – Ryan Quade proudly displays the number 2 jumper presented to him for Season 2006.