The Manjimup Tigers went into Saturday’s LSWFL East Perth Football Club Colts decider as one of the more dominant forces the competition had seen in recent times. The Tigers finished on top of the regular season ladder, with a percentage of 937 to underline their dominance. Southerners had actually pushed the Tigers as far as any during 2024 in the 2nd Semi Final, the 23 point Tigers win the only time they had been held to a victory of under 5 goals.
Southerners earned another crack at the Tigers courtesy of a 57 point win over Imperials in the Preliminary Final, knowing absolutely everything would have to go right against as Tigers outfit chasing their 3rd consecutive flag. Under slightly moody skies at the start of the day in Deanmill, Tigers’ Captain Connor Edwards picked the toss of the coin from LSWFL President, Tristan Mead and kicked to the left hand end of the ground. A cagey 1st Quarter followed, with the Southerners going toe to toe with the favourites and reaching the first break with the scores tied at 1.1.7 a piece. The scoreline represented only the second time all season the Tigers hadn’t reached the first change in front, though the final outcome of that other occurrence would have been limited as a source of confidence for Souths.
The second term was still a tug of war as the Tigers struggled to get the brand of football working that had served them so well all season. As good an outfit as the tigers were, was there a chance that against a good, hard working team, the number of blowouts they had played in during the season would actually work against them? The scoreline at half time did see the Tigers inch ahead, carrying a 7 point lead courtesy of the 3.3.21 to 2.2.14 progress score.
Paul Edwards and his charges were in an unfamiliar position for 2024, though did have two previous Grand Final experiences to call back on, both of which were 20 point or under leads at the major change in the deciders against Bridgetown. As the crowd continued to build and the Deanmill hosts dealt with the first of three half time rushes to the canteen, the question many were asking was whether Souths could continue to push hard enough to push their more fancied opponents into the red zone, or whether they had fired their best shots.
If you were wearing red, white and blue, the answer came in the 3rd Quarter and chances are, you didn’t like it. A 5 goal to 1 term finally had the Tigers in control of the game, with the likes of 2024 LSWFL Colts Best & Fairest, Conor Cole, starting to get their hands on the football with increasing regularity. At the final change, the margin stood at 32 points, the Tigers in front 8.4.52 to 3.2.20.
With the threat finally somewhat extinguished, the year’s runway leaders exerted further control in the final term, another 3 goal quarter while holding Souths to a point, putting an exclamation point on the performance, the season and the 3-peat.
The final scoreline read 11.8.74 to 3.3.21 as the Tigers faithful kicked off the first set of celebrations for the day. John Seroka capped an excellent season, which also saw him poll strongly in the Colts Best & Fairest, with the Mensland Manjimup Medal for Best on Ground. Connor Brown kicked 3 goals, the only multiple goal kicker of the game, while Cole was once again superb. Having claimed their 3rd successive flag, all that was left to do was for the Tigers to lift the Colts Shield, proudly sponsored by GJ Freight.
TIGERS 1.1 3.3 8.4 11.8 (74)
SOUTHERNERS 1.1 2.2 3.2 3.3 (21)
GOALS
Tigers: Brown 3, Fisher, Seroka, Cole, Whatman, Edwards, Hallam, Ryan, Beggs
Southerners: X. Omodei, Stacpoole, H. Omodei
BEST
Tigers: Cole, Seroka, Crosby, Beggs, Edwards, Ryan
Southerners: Cybula, Lewkowski, Lee, Stacpoole, Hughes
The umpires were supported all season by The Avocado Collective and topped off an outstanding season with their officiating of the decider.
FIELD UMPIRES
Tristan Mead, Brian Blechynden, Todd Carroll
GOAL UMPIRES
Remo Pessotto, Hayden Rice
BOUNDARY UMPIRES
With thanks to Boyup Brook’s Leigh Beadle, Miles Staniford-Smith, Matt Chambers, Benji Beechmore
