A Season of Change!

The 1st Grade Leadership Group was named at the recent Season Launch. From Left - Captain Ryan Quade, Coach Rod O'Riley, V/Captain James Kavanagh, Paul Briedis, Toby Conroy, Todd Dickinson, Matt Liddle with V/Captain Mitch Daniher absent

A Season of Change

Players / Coaches come and go in footy clubs.

It’s the nature of the beast that changes occur with playing personal and coaching staff on a regular basis.

It hasn’t been so regularly at the Tigers Club in recent years but season 2011 has certainly seen changes.

This year marks the start of something very different for the Club.

There is no Mark Armstrong taking the field for the first time in 18 seasons, Nor will he control the team after nine years of coaching. Instead he will sit with the rest of the “old blokes” up in the Growlers Members area – enjoying a few quite ones no doubt.

Alongside him will be his great mate Chris Davis who followed him down the Hume Highway from Wagga and has spent the last 17 years in the black and gold.

There will be another veteran up in the Growlers – Dennis Quade. With 200 club games under his belt, DQ has also called it a day. Dane Miller has also called it quits after a long trek to the 100 game milestone due to injury. He is another who will give the Growlers Deck a bit of a bashing – no doubt.

There will be a few other notable absentees from the regular Tigers line up. Veteran and former Captain Renee Ioppi has decided his playing days (at the moment) will conclude at the Harman Hogs. Andrew Lieschkie will finish his playing days with his former club Mangoplah Cookardinia United. Jordan Longmore returns to his old club Bathurst Bushrangers while yet another 100 gamer Bill Neely returns to South Australia due to work and family commitments.

The retirement (or moving on) of many of our veterans is tough to handle. They have been the backbone of the Tigers for many years. However with retirements opportunities arise for others – young people lift footy clubs and at the moment the youngsters are doing just that.

Sunday will see a new group of players, a new coach, a new jumper, a new competition, a new era. There is anticipation in the camp, with 67 players on its senior grade list plus 33 in the Under 18’s, the Club has excellent numbers to choose three teams from this weekend.

Some will miss out, others will be surprised to be included – maybe they are in the first grade team, maybe not – whatever the case may be – this exciting group of youngsters will pave the way for future generations.

Add the Ladies team to the above and we are set for a journey in 2011. (They play their second game of the season on Saturday at Football Park against Eastlake at 10.00am).

NB: No doubt there will be an extra load of beverages delivered to the ground for the Tigers first up encounter with Belconnen on Sunday as the Eastern Conference of the North East Australian Football League opens at Dairy Farmers Park.

Game Times: 9.30am – Under 18’s: Tigers v 2010 Grand Finalists Belconnen 10.00am – Women: Tigers v Eastlake @ Football Park 11.30am – Reserve Grade: Tigers (2010 Premiers) v 2010 Grand Finalist Belconnen 2.00pm – 1st Grade: Tigers v Belconnen