Grand Final day can often spring a surprise and Tigers FC, who finished fourth in the regular season, will be seeking just that as they enter the lion’s den, Deakin Stadium, to face the most successful side in Capital Football history, Canberra Croatia, in a battle to claim the silverware on Saturday evening.
It’s been a long-time between drinks for Tigers FC in terms of collecting the Grand Final silverware, the men originally from Cooma having last tasted success in the 2012 showdown, the final Premier League showdown before the rebrand into the National Premier League.
That day a screamer from Stephen Domenici sealed a dramatic 2-1 win over Belconnen United at McKellar Park, since then Tigers have only reached Grand Final day once, a chastening 5-0 hammering by Gungahlin United in the 2019 big match.
Croatia by contrast have managed to make eight of the ten Grand Finals since the competition took on the NPL moniker, but had to wait for their first success, four losses in succession from 2013 to 2016 was followed by wins in 2018 and 2019.
A further defeat to Monaro Panthers in 2022 was banished by a penalty success against O’Connor Knights at Deakin Stadium twelve months later, their 66th major trophy in an illustrious and glorious history. By contrast, the Tigers can boast of six major honours in their cabinet.
On thing that is almost guaranteed when these two heavyweights of the local game lock horns are goals. There have been an incredible 175 goals in 39 matches between the teams at an average of nearly five a game. Croatia have scored 115 and Tigers 60.
Historically, it’s Croatia who have the upper hand in matches, particularly in the NPL era where, in forty matches across all competitions from 2013 to date, Croatia having won twenty-four, Tigers just nine, with six draws. Indeed, the ledger looks worse for Tigers in post-season clashes.
Canberra Croatia have met Tigers five times in finals matches with Croatia having won every one of them to date in three Preliminary Final meetings one Elimination Final, and the meeting in the short-loved Top Four Series played during the Covid enforced shortened campaigns.
Far more positively for Tigers supporters is the record in major finals. The duo has met in just one during the NPL timeframe, the Federation Cup Final of 2019 when the mist descended, and the Tigers held their nerve in a penalty shoot-out after the teams had played out a goalless 120 minutes of action.
Tigers have managed to score five times against Croatia in three NPL matches this season but have yet to win a game in those three, the Round 3 game ending all-square at 2-2 with Croatia subsequently winning in Round 14 (3-1) and Round 17 (3-2).
As with any Grand Final though, previous form and statistics mean very little. Whichever team performs will come out on top and, whilst Croatia would be favourites heading in, the Tigers have already shown they have claws.
DETAILS
NATIONAL PREMIER LEAGUE GRAND FINAL
Saturday 21 September 2024
Canberra Croatia v Tigers FC
(Deakin Stadium, 19:00)
Admission: $5 (adults), Gold Coin (Students/Pensioners/Concession Holders), Children U14 Free
Limited Edition Souvenir Program: $2
