Tiger, the Queen of Parklands Oval
Tiger, the Wonder Dog, has become a fixture at all the club?s home games at Parklands Oval. Tiger, quite appropriately of the female gender, appears on the sideline every match day to cheer on, or should that be bark on, her beloved Northern Tigers.
Northern Tigers Women?s Convenor, Julie Van Der Wielen, says that Tiger has been appearing at the ground during the entire eight seasons that Julie has been involved with the club. Tiger picked up her nickname from one of the club?s Under 12 players about five seasons ago and the name has stuck.
At first Tiger proved to be something of a nuisance as she was prone to get too close to the action. This didn?t endear the wonder dog to the refereeing fraternity. One unfortunate Northern Tigers Coach was almost red carded at one match when, after being asked by the referee to remove the dog from the field, replied that it was not his dog. The referee didn?t like this answer obviously! More recently the black and whites have come to accept Tiger as something of a mascot of their own, though the Northern Tigers players aren?t keen to share their number one supporter.
Julie Van Der Wielen is not Tiger?s favourite team official however. ?After 8 years of telling Tiger to get back over the fence she now won?t allow me too close? says Julie. ?A week or so back I tried to give her a sausage because she was behaving herself by sitting outside the fence during our Under 12?s game. Tiger refused to take it until I left the ground and hid out of her view?.
Julie says that Tiger is starting to slow down, however. ?Once upon a time I?d only have to step in her direction and she?d gracefully jump the fence with a look of ?okay, I?m over her now?. ?Arthritis seems to be affecting her back legs now and she isn?t quite as sprightly?.
No-one knows where Tiger lives. The Northern Tigers clan presume it?s a home close by as Tiger appears from nowhere shortly after the whistle to start the first game of the day. Once the day?s action is over the wonder dog disappears. Nowadays Tiger only gets near the action at half time or during warm ups. Once the referees appear Tiger knows to take a step back and just keep an eye on the loose ball. Should a ball be kicked over the sideline Tiger generally chases it and barks if someone doesn?t come quickly to pick it up. She obviously likes to see a fast flowing game!
It will certainly be a sad day for the Northern Tigers when their beloved mascot no longer turns up to be part of the match day action. Go get ?em Tiger!
-By Ross Anderson
