GSFL 2025: History makers Railways end 34-year colts premiership drought with three-point win over Albany

Railways colts broke a 34-year premiership drought with a thrilling three-point victory against Albany in Saturday’s grand final. The Tigers kicked the only goal of a tense final term, pinching the lead from Albany in the dying stages at Keep The Sheep Stadium. Proud coach Dan Cale said it was a fitting conclusion to a stellar season. “We’ve had a really good year, and not been challenged a lot through the year,” he said. “We probably knew the Sharks were going to come really hard, and I think the last probably two minutes of the game, when it was on the line, the boys stood up really and had a bit of belief.” The colts win was the first of the day’s three victories for the Tigers, who also secured reserves and league flags. “I would say the club has a lot to do with how we play football, the positivity around the club,” Cale said. “I didn’t have a lot to do on the sideline; you just trust the blokes that are out there and say well done to them, credit to the players.” Cale said the “most pleasing part” were the stories about the former Tigers players who won the last colts premiership in 1991, watching their sons win the trophy 34 years later. The historic drought-breaking win was all decided in the last as Sharks came into the final term trailing by only a single point, before a series of behinds put them in front for the first time since the opening minutes of the match. Feisty energy gripped both sides as they wrestled for ascendancy, with a missed set shot from Tigers star forward Buddy Robinson leaving the game up for grabs. It was only a clutch goal by Tyler Wallrodt — the only Tigers major in the second half — that got his side over the line to put their names on the 2025 premiership cup, with a 6.6 (42) to 5.9 (39) victory. The showdown started competitively with Hector Volckerts booting the first goal of the match for Sharks, before Robinson replied with two of his own and then Taesjaun Woods converted to make it a one-point margin. The Tigers ran rampant in the second as Robinson kicked another two majors and ruckman Hunter Porteous added another via a 50m penalty. Tom Bradshaw put the Sharks back in contention with a stunning goal but still had plenty of catching up to do with a 16-point half-time deficit. Bradshaw didn’t leave time to spare as he notched another in the opening minute of the third, followed by Volckerts’ second which accompanied the first rainfall of the day. Porteous was huge in the middle to earn the Panizza Brothers Medal while Lucas Smart and Harry McLeod were immense. Robinson returned from a calf injury to boot a decisive four goals and midfielder Hugh Beaton was busy in the second half. Mason Webster, James Taylor, Zephyr Simmons, Declan Reid and Bradshaw (two goals) all played starring roles for Sharks.