Sport
24 September, 2025
Tigers take AFL 2025 flag
THE North Cairns Tigers have ended a 37-year premiership drought, claiming the 2025 AFL Cairns men’s senior title with a 12.12 (84) to 7.14 (56) victory over Centrals Trinity Beach Bulldogs at Cazalys Stadium last Saturday.
It was their first premiership win since 1988, more than 13,000 days in the making and the celebrations reflected the significance of the moment for players, supporters and the wider club community.
From the first bounce, the match was physical and intense. The Bulldogs applied early pressure, winning several contested possessions, but the Tigers’ forwards punished turnovers and gradually built momentum.
By the final quarter, North Cairns had opened a buffer that the Bulldogs could not overcome.
The Tigers’ midfielders controlled clearances and delivered clean entries inside 50, while forwards converted crucial opportunities.
The Bulldogs’ defenders fought hard but wasted chances up front which ultimately cost them.
Isaac Sinnott from the North Cairns Tigers was named best on ground, taking out the Howard Kennedy Medal for his outstanding performance.
