The 2025 season was one of steady rebuilding and renewed optimism. After a period of consolidation, the Club focused on player retention and recruitment, strengthening governance, and re-engaging our community. Volunteers, coaches and players demonstrated resilience and commitment, and the board continued to prioritise a sustainable platform for future success. This was built on the back of the work done over the past two seasons in our journey to “Restore The Roar”.
Season 2025 commenced with the appointment of former Brisbane Lion and Geelong Cat Allen “Bundy” Christensen as Senior Playing Coach and Junior Development Officer. Unfortunately, due to a spinal infection during a back operation Bundy was hospitalised for a couple of months and fulfilled duties as a non-playing coach in Season 2025.
The announcement coincided with significant sponsorship investment in the Club, introducing our naming rights partner ‘Blumers Lawyers’ as well as new sponsors in Wellington Orthodontics, Slate Estate Agents, TotalPos/CompleteIS and Bolton Financial Services.
The appointment of Bundy resulted in an influx of young players joining the Tigers including several former North Hobart and Sandy Bay Juniors, the majority joining the club from the Old Scholars competition. Others from across the river joined, looking to turn their experience at TSL Development League level into consistent senior football. The majority of these players are in their early 20s and will serve the club well across many years. Four wins, and a significant lift in the back end of the season saw the club finishing sixth, although with a significant gap still ahead of playing finals. Bundy’s focus on player development and his professionalism in his roles is second to none, and he was aptly supported by Matthew Ferguson and Playing Assistant Oscar Shaw.
Throughout the season, our best football as a club matched it with the likes of Sorell, Lindisfarne and Dodges Ferry for consistent patches, and we are excited ahead of season 2026 with some additional young players joining the Tigers.
A real highlight for the club in 2025 was the return of the Under 18s program, led by former player Hudson Arkley who has shown in his first year he will be a long-term coach. The boys improved each week, notching up a few wins and being unlucky in their elimination final at Sorell. A real highlight to see former Hobart Junior Noah Smith return to play Under 18s, going on to make his Senior Debut in the win at Boyer Oval and to see the growth each week.
Our Reserves stepped up to, led by former Hobart Player Shaun Groves notching up three wins, and improving significantly on a winless 2024 season.
Our masters continued their important roles with the Women’s growing and winning their first ever game, taking down Sorell.
Special thank you to our outgoing coach Trey Ramritu for his work in supporting the Womens program. Our Men had a competitive season, continuing our positive culture and perhaps deserving to go further into ‘B Finals’. The work of Coach Ben Machin was appreciated as always.
This season saw the club grow its membership base to in excess of 140 financial members (the most it has been for some time). We have continued to tick off goals in our Strategic Plan 2024-2027, including the delivery of upgraded Changeroom Amenities to support our increase in female participation across the club. Special thank you to the Tasmanian Government, City of Hobart and AFL Tasmania for supporting these upgrades in excess of $300,000.
We are underway on the next step of our journey with Tom Darke and Zac Smith agreeing to Co-Coach our Senior Women’s team in 2026 (at time of writing the SFLW licence is subject to final approval). Welcome to all our new ladies – there are already good numbers on the track across early pre-season and we are excited to provide a pathway for women to play senior football at our club.
More members as players, volunteers, and supporters is the only way we will continue to grow our club, and the board recognises women’s footy is a huge part of this. I urge our new members to get involved behind the scenes, helping in the bar, the canteen, running water or whatever. Don’t underestimate the enjoyment you will find and the friendships you will make.
In conclusion, I’d like to thank the board, our members, players, volunteers and supporters – without each of you this club wouldn’t be what it is today. To be even more candid, without many of you it simply wouldn’t exist.
Thanks always for your ongoing passion and support of the club – Eat ‘em Alive Tigers.