Photos by Highflyer Images
By Abby Collins
The Tigers’ Den packed out over the weekend of May 24 to 26, as the Mayne Australian Football club saw new and old faces return to raise the bat in celebration of a century.
The Tigers faithful packed out the Kedron- Wavell RSL club to celebrate 100 years of footy, the first club in Queensland to reach the milestone.
A Hall of Fame was long overdue with an initial intake of 275 champions stretched across the club’s three significant eras, earning their place on the honour board at the Den forever.
“The club honoured the who’s who of Tigers, high achievers and stalwarts from the last 100 years,” Vice President Russel Ditchburn said.
“With 400 people in attendance, it was a magnificent night for Tigers, past and present.”
Former Brisbane Bears and Brisbane Lions player Richard Champion was just one of the many names inducted on Friday night’s proceedings.
And the celebrations didn’t stop there.
After their Hall of Fame gala night on Friday May 24, the club enjoyed a more relaxed day of informal catch ups at the footy on Saturday, as both Tigers teams defeated the Caloundra Panthers, and finished with a bang at the Annual Reunion on Sunday.
The 2014 senior and reserve premiership teams were the stars of the show, joining forces again 10 years after the winning year.
The Tigers have well and truly earned their stripes in the AFL community, they are not only the longest standing Queensland club, but they are also one of the most decorated.
Having clawed their way to the top with 18 senior premierships, 21 reserve premierships and earning their first senior flag in 1927, they have shown their determination to win since the beginning.
The Annual Reunion Day this year had some added flavour.
The club awarded the coveted Mick Nolan Medal for the Best Mayne Player in their senior game to three-time podium finisher Jack Collings.
The medal was awarded by Mick’s wife Nettie in a much-loved tradition for the club. This year she was also joined by two of her three sons, Ricky and Danny, for this momentous medal ceremony.
The festivities, dubbed bigger than ever, included the unveiling of a new addition of their history book, launching “Feel the Roar” to accompany the first version “From Creation Heartbreak Top Glory.”
The author of the original, Bob Gower, helped Vice president Russel Ditchburn and Richard Fell create the new volume to spread the rich history of the club even further.
The party won’t stop there. The Tigers sure know how to celebrate a milestone and they will be inviting old, new and future faces to the Black and Gold Ball on July 20 to conclude their Centenary events in style.
Campbell Shaw, Club President, is honoured and humbled to ring in this milestone with the Tigers.
“These events wouldn’t have been possible without the work put in by the Committee and many wonderful volunteers, coaches and players of this year’s season,” he said.
“The event is a credit to everyone.”
