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A brief taste of Tigerland in 2014 when he played NEAFL football for the Tigers was enough to have Alex Lawder jump at the opportunity to return to the Tigers as Reserve Grade coach for 2017.
After playing all of his junior career with Tuggeranong, from the age of six, Alex ventured out to Riverina club Naranderra in 2013.
When Tuggeranong was the first Canberra club to withdraw from the NEAFL competition in 2013, Alex joined a number of Hawks to cross over to the Tigers to continue playing at NEAFL level.
Alex spent just the one year in the black and gold. He played eight NEAFL games and nine AFL Canberra First Division games including the AFL Canberra First Division premiership – his first ever flag.
But like all of the Tuggeranong players, Alex decided to move on from the Tigers when we also withdrew from the NEAFL at the end of 2014. Initially he played again at Naranderra for a year before going back to his junior club, Tuggeranong, in an assistant coaching/playing role.
“I absolutely loved the year I spent at Queanbeyan in 2014,” Alex said.
“The people and volunteers involved at Qeuanbeyan are amazing! I’ve known Corcs (First Grade coach Dave Corcoran) and PC (Senior Assistant Paul Campbell) for a very long time now, going back to playing rep footy with Corcs in juniors and having involvement with PC and his family all throughout the junior years also.
“The chance to work closely with them was very enticing for me, while also having the opportunity to learn and develop myself as a player/coach,” Alex said.
Alex started coaching under 12’s in 2008. He then progressed to under 14’s and then to under 18’s for a few years. He was an assistant coach of Tuggeranong Hawks seniors last year.
“I’m hoping to develop further not just as a coach, but as a player and person from all the great people involved at the Tigers.
“Helping others to perform at their best while playing senior footy, and also developing the up-and-coming players achieve their goals, is immensely satisfying. I have always enjoyed coaching and developing others.
“The rewards of coaching are awesome and I’m very much looking forward to helping to achieve great things,” Alex said.
Alex spent the majority of his football career at Tuggeranong. He holds many people there dear to his heart.
“They have made me the player and the person I am today. I will never shut the door on Tuggeranong and I hope I’ll be welcomed back one day,” said Alex.
Alex has had a very big twelve months in football: taking on a senior coaching role with Tuggeranong; playing his 200th game for Tuggeranong in 2016; and now switching back to the Tigers to take on the role of Reserve Grade coach.
But the big events in Alex’s life don’t stop there. Before the 2017 season kicks off he and his fiancee Tanya will tie the knot in Fiji.
We welcome both Alex and Tanya back into the Tigers family.