Australian Football

Labrador

Despite a modest level of performance Labrador procured a license to participate in the Queensland state competition’s newly formed first division in 2005, finishing sixth (out of eight) with 6 wins from 18 minor round games. After that, the 2006 season was something of a disappointment, as the side slumped to second from bottom on the eight team ladder with just 4 wins. There was considerable improvement the following year as the Tigers won 10 out of 19 matches to qualify for the finals in fifth place before overwhelming Suncoast Lions to the tune of 75 points in the elimination final. The following week, however, their season was brought to an end by Southport, but Labrador’s performance in losing by just 26 points against a side steeped in finals tradition was highly creditable, and augured well for the future.

In 2010 the Tigers enjoyed their best season to date, qualifying for their first QAFL first division grand final but losing to Morningside. Between 2011 and 2013 Labrador competed in the Northern Conference of the NEAFL, finishing ninth (of ten), sixth (of ten), and tenth and last. Resuming in the QAFL's first division in 2014 the Tigers quickly flexed their muscles reaching the grand final, only to lose to Morningside once more. In 2015 they made amends by capturing their first QAFL flag thanks to 14.12 (96) to 13.11 (89) grand final defeat of Morningside. They repeated this success the following year when they downed Palm Beach Currumbin in the grand final by 53 points, 15.12 (102) to 7.7 (49). In 2017 they experienced what might reasonably be described as the ultimate disappointment as they won all 16 of their home and away matches to top the ladder ahead of the finals only fail to go on with things by succumbing to two unaccountable losses to Palm Beach Currumbin, by 39 points in the second semi final and by 53 points when it mattered most a fortnight later. A year later the Tigers missed out on finals involvement entirely as they dropped down the premiership table to seventh.