IF the Tigers can claim this year’s minor premiership, it’ll be the first time anyone at the Orange Central West AFL club can remember such a feat.
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In the Tigers’ last two premiership-winning years, Bathurst (2013) and Dubbo (2002) claimed the minor premiership, and with slim pickings silverware-wise in the years prior and in between those successes, it’s little wonder the current ambush of Orange Tigers hasn’t tasted minor prize bliss.
“We actually don’t know. There’s no mention of minor premierships on honour boards at the club,” Orange Tigers president Luke Whitton, who has been involved with the club since 2002, said.
“It’d have to be well in-excess of a decade since the last.”
With that stretch in mind, the club boss said the achievement would be a massive reward for those at the Tigers.
Even if the players and coaches are firmly focused on the bigger picture.
“Without a doubt. The coach isn’t worrying about it though, he’s only worried about that one day at the end of the season, but from a committee’s point of view it’d be a nice feather in the cap,” Whitton enthused.
But 2014 could be the first.
With five rounds remaining this season, the Tigers sit in pole position on 48 points.
The only real challenger to top spot is Bathurst. The Bushrangers sit on 44 points.
The two play each other for the final time in the penultimate round of the regular season at George Park, but even if the Tigers go down a superior percentage - the Tigers are 62.21 per cent better off percentage-wise than the Bushies - should see the final result become a moot point.
It’ll take an upset from either Dubbo (home), Cowra (home) or the Demons again away in the final round to see the Tigers stumble.
And, based on the previous 13 rounds this year, those scenarios are an unlikely occurrence in 2014.
Whitton said the success of the Tigers on field this season had made running the administrative side of the club an enjoyable past time.
“We had two people from last year’s committee role over into this year’s, and that has been a God send for us,” Whitton said, also boasting about the success of the Tigers in the CWAFL under 12s and under 15s seasons.
“Coming on this year, I suppose my knowledge of the AFL and what they want from clubs in this area administration-wise has been an advantage to us.
“Last year’s premiership has been the catalyst and we’ve managed to push on with a strong year this season.”