Glory Days

A football team from Pleasant Hills - yep we all knew it had a pub but a football team! ! Yes for fifty years the Hillites competed despite  two World Wars, a pandemic after WW1 called the Spanish Flu and the Great Depression between world wars - success was rare with just one premiership - they gave it everything until there was nothing left to give 1905 to 1955 - it’s a bloody good story - The L...

The year was 1997 and Albury after back to back premierships in 1995 and 96 had a new coach with Michael Buchanan taking over from Paul Spargo - Mikki as he was known was one of Spargo’s trusted foot soldiers - a hard nut on field and a loveable larakin off field Buchanan and his band of men stuck it up the doubters who gave the Tigers no chance after losing eight premiership players - they loved...

The Albury Tigers have won 22 premierships in the Ovens and Murray FL – it all started way back at the turn of the 20th century – this episode takes a historical look back at the first three premierships and just what it was like playing football at the time as Albury celebrated their 1902, 1908 and 1913 flags with names synonymous to the Albury club and league were emerging.

The year was 1959 and former Fitzroy legend Bill Stephen had the Pigeons primed for a tilt at its first ever OMFL premiership and to break a 32 year premiership drought – the biggest challenge was defending premier Wangaratta Rovers under Collingwood legend Bob Rose – they found away that thrilled a community and town in one of the all time grand finals.

On October 25th 2023 the sporting world and community of Walla Walla lost one of natures gentleman - Merv Wegener an absolute icon of the Hume Football netball league and the unofficial Mayor of Walla Walla - in November 2021 Merv was interviewed on 1494 2AY by Robbie Mackinlay - here is the interview as a tribute to Merv his family and his many admirers across the community.

Albury were on its knees after a loss in week one of finals their backs were to the wall ahead of its first semi-final showdown – they had injuries and suspensions and had be written off in the media – but they had a card up their sleeve and they were about to deal it they were also a resilient lot and came out to fight back – enjoy Part B of Tiger Tales 1996 – “Spargo’s Soldiers – Against All Odd...

 The Tigers were on the hunt for back to back premierships in 1996,  gains outweighed the losses on the recruiting front – they had negotiated the home and away rounds with just two losses to finish second behind Lavington on percentage – a bizarre finals schedule, injuries, suspensions and a loss in week one of finals had the Tigers at the crossroads enjoy Part A of Tiger Tales 1996 – “Spargo’s S...

The Albury Tigers under new coach Paul Spargo had made it to a preliminary final in 1994 they hadn’t tasted premiership success since 1985 – they launched a bold recruiting plan and landed some real quality to what was already a talented list – they played hard on and off the field and when it counted, they stood up under enormous pressure when challenged.

  Albury Thunder were coming off its first ever Group Nine senior premiership and wanted more in 2013 – Josh Cale was coaching again and the hunger burnt strong to go Back to Back – they trained hard and gained the competitive edge that would take them to new heights as Thunder struck again in Group Nine rugby league.

Lockhart had last won a premiership in 1982 – the year was 2003 a new coach was found a rookie coach named Mick Glanvill – he and his recruiting committee dragged back former players and locals as Lockhart became a genuine force – they did it the hard way from elimination final to premiership glory by a spirit that swept every finals opponent aside.

  Wooden spooners in 1984 with just two wins the Albury Tigers had hit the wall – coaching legend Tom Doolan stepped down as the search began for his replacement - it ended with a young man from Ganmain Russell Campbell appointed for 1985 – he rejuvenated and inspired the club to one of its greatest ever premiership victories as the Tigers roared back into contention in one of the all time great O...

The All Blacks were into their 4th season in the  Tungamah FL and yet to play finals – they stepped it up with clever recruiting & found a strong bond amongst the senior playing group – both sides made it into the grand final as history awaited them – grand final day had it all in both grades – drama, tension, brutality and courage – I hope you enjoy “Written in Stone – Backs to the Wall”.  

The year was 1947 and the world was recovering from the horror of WW2 – community sport was making a return and the Albury Tigers were starting to regain momentum it had pre war after a close loss in the 1946 decider – they recruited a VFL/VFA legend Tommy “The Turk” Lahiff as coach and they got busy at getting better as they launched an assault on the 1947 OMFL premiership.

  The All Blacks went into the 1976 season still reeling from a straight sets finals exit from the 1975 season after going through the home and away season unbeaten with a 12 goal average winning margin – they made change found a new coach kept the old coach and put together a stunning season of dominance to win its 10th premiership.

The All Blacks 1971 season was all about squaring the ledger on old rivals Glenrowan after having suffered grand final defeats to the Tigers in the two previous seasons – they had a new coach and a new desire they were an unbeatable force throughout the home and away season – they just had to do it on the finals stage to lift a 9th premiership.

The final episode of the 100 years of ACT Cricket covers  the period from 2005 to 2022. The Manuka Oval lights are switched on, men’s and women’s Test cricket and World Cup cricket came to town, along with BBL finals, Sheffield Shield final and the ACT Meteors were launched. A triple ton in club cricket plus a snapshot on the stars of the era Nathan Lyon, Jason Behrendorff, Erin Osborne and the te...

This episode of Tiger Tales takes a look at the 1956  premiership when three time Essendon premiership player Jack Jones led Albury to premiership glory over old rivals North Albury. Jack Jones was not only a legend of the Essendon Football Club but he also became a Tiger legend being named as captain of the Albury Team of the Century – such was his standing at Tigerland. Before Jones started his...

This episode looks at the rise and fall of the Canberra Comets who after three years were dumped from the Mercantile Mutual Cup competition – interviews with coach Mike Veletta and players tells it all. A triple century in Women’s cricket, T20 club cricket arrives, while again we look at the star players of the era and the club snapshot with Weston Creek Molonglo and Norths.

This episode takes a look at the return of the PM XI matches, some of the all time great players including Michael Bevan, Neil Bulger, Peter Solway, Glenda Hall, Greg Irvine along with men’s and women’s World Cup matches in Canberra and the ACT CA tour of New Zealand and the restructure of grade cricket.

Some big-name players had departed the Tigers ahead of the 1966 season  - a Morris Medallist and a Brownlow Medallist and a future Richmond premiership star - a fall down the ladder was feared – but not for a man called Weideman – the man was a winner and he set about doing just that – I hope you enjoy Tiger Tales – “A Man Called Weideman and his Foreign Legion”

It all happened in the sixties and seventies with the re organisation of club cricket, Women’s Cricket was finding its feet and World Series Cricket hit Canberra, coaching and junior cricket were thriving  and the star players were a plenty - I hope you enjoy Episode 3 “Country Powerhouse to Regional Powerhouse” as we celebrate the 100th Year of Cricket in the ACT.

The guns had fallen silent on the battlefields as World War II finished – communities across Australia needed the return of sport and cricket was ready to return and despite obvious restrictions and hardship it quickly returned to a normal part of life in the nation’s capital and this is how it happened - I hope you enjoy Episode 2 “Emerging From The War” as we celebrate the 100th Year of Cricket...

The residents of Canberra sought to develop recreational activities after World War 1 had concluded – the first of these was cricket as seven clubs commenced The Federal Territory Cricket Association or as we know it today ACT Cricket Association so from foundation in the early twenties to the bright lights of Manuka Oval it has been an amazing journey, I hope you enjoy Episode 1 “The Early Days”...

Episode B of the Griffith Black and Whites 100 years anniversary looks back at the last four decades of the famous club through the eyes of past players and administrators where it has  overcome many challengers to still be a strong, vibrant and community inclusive club in Griffith and Group 20 rugby league.

It all started from humble beginnings the Griffith Rugby League club that transformed into the mighty Griffith Black and Whites Rugby League Club still going strong today in Group 20 – this episode looks at the first six decades of a wonderful 100 years of history through the eyes of the people who made it all happen on and off the field.