The Tigers had not won a men’s grand final for 15 years, and had featured in four grand final losses in the years since then. 

The decider had to be moved to Lake Street in Forster after copious amounts of rain in the days preceding the big match, and the wet surface made for some interesting moments. 

The pattern of the match was set early on with the Tigers playing a more possession-based game, using the flanks well and looking to exploit the space behind the Palms’ wide defenders, whilst the Palms favoured a more direct, muscular approach. 

The first half was very even, with both sides creating chances that brought the keepers into action.

The midfield battle was very intense, and a series of long-range free kicks from the Palms put the Tigers defence under pressure, but they dealt with it well, and with around 10 minutes to go Mitch Minors put the Tigers in front with a superb, curling corner that the Palms keeper could do nothing about. 

Chris Ceccato also had a great opportunity to extend the Tigers’ lead before half time but shot straight at the keeper.

The second half saw the Tigers reshuffling their back four after an injury to Matt Thompson, and as they were settling in, a quick counter attack down the right flank from the Palms saw the ball fall to the feet of Lennon Fisher, but Curtis Jones in the Tigers’ goal saved well from close range. 

The rebound went straight to another Palms player, whose shot was also saved by Jones but it was third time lucky as the next rebound found its way through the mass of bodies and into the Tigers’ goal. 

At 1-1 the game was very finely balanced, with chances at both ends but it was the Tigers who reclaimed the lead after some great play which saw Dylan Nash cross to Jack Yeates, who out jumped the defence to head out to Corey Nash at the top of the Palms penalty area.

Nash steadied himself before driving a sensational volley into the back of the net with 20 minutes to go.

From then on it was a battle to the finish, with goal mouth scrambles at both ends and lots of very physical play which was very well controlled by the referee. The Tigers were still moving the ball well, and finding a lot of joy down their left flank, where Jake Camilleri drove his markers to distraction with some great one on one play. 

It looked like the game was going to be made certain by the Tigers when Jack Yeates broke clear of the Palms defence just beyond half way, with only the keeper to beat, but the ball got caught under his feet and a great chance went begging. 

Right at the death the Tigers’ hearts were in their mouths when a shot from the Palms was pushed narrowly wide by Jones and out for a corner. The Tigers cleared the resulting set piece, and the referee signalled full time, with the Tigers deserving winners of the match 2-1.

Jack Yeates was a deserving man of the match, with relentless harrying of the defence and selfless running off the ball all day.

Youngsters Camilleri, Jones, Nick Chapman, Ryan Chipperfield and Dylan Nash all played with great maturity and skill, with exceptional performances from midfielders Jason Ward, Nash, Ceccato and Minors.

Matt Scarff, Andrew Couch, Dave Hardy, Pete Goonan and Brendan Aquilina all defended well, at times under extreme pressure.