Toowoomba Tigers set their sights on six

AS the Tigers hunt for their sixth-successive flag, a fourth women’s team remains on the cards for the AFLDD.

SIX ON THEIR MINDS: The Toowoomba Tigers have amassed a strong roster for the AFL Darling Downs senior women’s competition. Picture: File

AUSSIE RULES: The Toowoomba Tigers women have enjoyed an unprecedented level of success since their inception in 2014.

That makes it fitting that they will carry five-straight premierships into what is shaping up as a season like nothing we’ve seen before.

However the AFL Darling Downs senior women’s competition pans out, coach Neville Jericho said his team will be ready to go.

“It’s a little bit unknown because of University pulling out,” Jericho said.

“We’re hoping that it is not a three-team season and at this stage we’re doing whatever we can to try and form a fourth side.

“We’ve got excellent numbers, South Toowoomba has good numbers, as does South Burnett.”

While three teams are confirmed to take the field in the senior women’s competition, Jericho remains hopeful that a fourth club can get off the ground to fill the void left by University in 2020.

“We just need to somehow be able to get that fourth side up and running,” he said.

“You don’t get that continuity with a three-team competition.

“You play one team on week, one the next and then have the bye.

“Souths and us might have a spillover of talent, and between us we might be able to form an extra side.”

Despite the expected loss of a number of key players, Jericho said they have been able to bring in new talent to keep them strong.

“We’ve been getting 19 at training which is fantastic for this time of year,” he said.

“We’ve had a few drop off and about five of our 10 players from last year have taken the year off or in Brisbane.

“Despite this we’ve had another 10 new ones turn up. I think we’ve got a good nucleus of players.

“We’re going into the season fairly confident at this stage. I believe we have a very good team and we’ve got close to 35 girls on the list.

“There’s a few more that play rugby league that are coming over.”

One of the few perils of bringing in new players to a sport during a pandemic has been the government restrictions on training.

By the time contact training will be allowed, the regular season will be up and running, however Jericho said he believes they will be able to adjust to the new

“We’re still at the non-contact stage of training,” he said.

“We’re allowed to start back on the 10th of July, and the season starts on the 11th.

“We have girls that have never played contact before and all of a sudden they’ll have to get out there and give it a go.

“I have no doubt they’ll be able to handle it. If we don’t give the other team the ball, we won’t have to worry about tackling.”

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