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The Tigers are pleased to announce a significant achievement in regard to the Clubs Senior Men’s Coaching positions leading up to the Club’s 100th Year and beyond.
Two lifelong friends who joined the Club as 21-year old’s in 2012 and winning a historic NEAFL Premiership in their first year will join forces for the club's 100th year (2024) as 1st Grade Co-Coaches with Josh Bryce to take the Head Coaching role in 2025.
Kade Klemke and Josh Bryce were two of the most promising players through the NSW Development Squads in the early 2000’s before moving into higher Leagues with Kade being drafted to Essendon and Josh signing with VFL club Werribee.
Circumstances changed for Kade and he returned to his home town of Culcairn being appointed as Coach at just 19 years of age in 2011.
His desire to Coach at the next level eventually seen him appointed as the Tigers youngest ever 1st Grade Coach in 2012 and with that came his first player signing as coach being lifelong friend Josh Bryce.
Josh Bryce & Kade Klemke moments after the final siren 2012 NEAFL Grand Final
Over the next 11 Years, they have achieved enormous success with the Queanbeyan.
Currently they have between them:
7 First Grade Premierships
5 Tony Wynd Medals Best & Fairest
242 1st Grade games
Klemke's record:
4 x Premierships 2012 (NEAFL), 2015, 2020, 2022
3 x B&F 2013, 2014, 2015
109 1st Grade games
Bryce's record:
3 x premierships 2012 (NEAFL), 2020, 2022
2 B&F 2017, 2020
133 1st Grade games.
Kade Coached the Tigers 1st Grade Premierships in 2012 (NEAFL) and 2015 and then Co-Coached the 2022 Premiership with Adrian Pavese. Josh has captained the last two Tigers Premierships 2020 & 2022.
Kade and Josh have Co-Coached before when they led the Tigers in their last year of the NEAFL competition back in 2014. Brycey has again declared his desire to re-enter the coaching ranks and with the blessing of great mate Kade and the club, Josh will transition back into coaching the senior squad over the next two years and then take the reins fully in 2025.
The transition will include Josh joining the 2023 coaching team as Senior Assistant and then move into a Co-Coaching role with Kade in 2024 before transitioning to the Head Coaching position in 2025.
"I am super excited to revisit my coaching aspirations and lead the current and next generation of tigers into the future" Bryce said
"Playing at the highest level for so long and being captain of this great club has been awesome. My desire to coach this club has only intensified over the past couple of years due to fact I haven't been able to explore the coaching option before due setting my business and starting a family"
"With backing and support of Kade, my family and the club, the time is now right to begin the next chapter of my footy career and to do this at Queanbeyan will be the final piece of the journey since joining the tigers in way back in 2012" he added
By the end of 2024, Kade will have coached the Tigers for 9 seasons becoming the 2nd all time coach in tigers history equaling club legend Mark Armstrong (9) and only being behind the great Brian Quade who had 10 years in charge of the club.
"It has been awesome to coach a club like Queanbeyan and will be an absolute honour to lead the club in their 100th year and emulate Mark and his longevity as coach of this great club" Klemke said.
"I look back over the past decade and now leading into the 2023/2024 seasons, I feel blessed to have been involved with Queanbeyan and felt the time will be right at the end of 2024 to hand the reins over to my great mate Josh to lead the club for the next period"
"I am not putting a pencil through not coaching again, but I will enjoy a good break with my family Rachel and Tommy as at the end of 2024 I would have coached 14 years straight and it does take a lot out of you" Klemke added
Club Vice Chairman and chief negotiator in delivering this exciting arrangement Mark Armstrong was thrilled with the outcome.
“ We are very pleased to make this announcement that sets up our current group for sustained success while also putting in place a pathway for our very talented group of junior players progressing through the Under 18’s to be guided by two highly qualified and credentialed Coaches" Mark said
"Most importantly both Kade and Josh are hugely respected within our ranks - indeed throughout the Canberra football community. I truly look forward to an exciting period for our Club over the next period of time” he added.
GM of Football and outgoing 2 time 1st Grade Premiership Coach Adrian Pavese added his excitement for the club.
"This is a huge outcome for the club, to be closing in on our 100th Birthday and to have two guys that are exceptional players, leaders and most importantly people leading and driving the club forward is very exciting for all involved with the Tigers" he said.
"Through hard work we are experiencing some great success at present and with this appointment announcement shows that the club is stable and unified as we head into our next chapter, I am sure the players (current and future) will be very happy with this outcome"
"100 years will be a fantastic achievement for the club as it hasn't been sunshine and roses over the past 98 years that's for sure, however we are currently in the strongest position as a club for many a year and to have secured our Men's coaching future coming into the 99th,100th & 101st year is exceptional" he added.
This announcement compliments other 2023 Coaching positions announced at the Tigers presentation night which included:
Men's 1st Grade Coach: Kade Klemke / Snr Assistant: Josh Bryce
Men’s Reserve Grade Coach: Dean Ross
Men’s Under 18 Grade Rising Stars Coach – Jason Gilbert
Tigerettes 1st Grade Coach – Adrian Pavese
Tigerettes Reserve Grade Coach – Andrew Harvey
Respective Assistant Coaches for the above to be named in the near future.