'This club means everything': Retiring Tigers sign off after dream finish

Three Uralla Tigers have ended their playing careers on a dream high note with first-graders Kearin Stiff and Josh Clark and reserve grade player Shaun Poss helping their teams to premiership glory on Sunday, September 6. "My body is telling me it's time, and I thought, what better way to go out than in a home Grand Final?" Poss told the club in the lead-up. "My family has dedicated a lot of time to my football career, and I feel it's time to repay the favour." Poss is a one-club man, having spent his junior years as a Tiger and kicking off his senior career in 2006. The following year he won the premiership alongside his brother when the Tigers capped an incredible undefeated season. He recalls that as his proudest footy moment. "That 2007 season will always stand out, but this Sunday will also be right up there," he said. For Stiff, there are too many memories to pick out any single one. "There have been too many proud moments to name, but every time I had the honour of leading the boys onto Woodville Oval as captain meant a lot to me." It was a role he had gladly taken on in 2025 when the Tigers made a triumphant return after not being able to field a team in 2024. Now just a year later they have hosted teams in all grades and hoisted premiership shields in the first and reserve grades with rousing wins over the Inverell Hawks. "Knowing the club is in such a good position after going through some tough years makes the decision a lot easier," Stiff said. "I also have a young family who have supported me all the way, and now it's time for me to give something back to them. I won't be far away, though. My boy Carter plays for the Tigers' juniors and absolutely loves it, so I'll still be around the club." For Poss, his father Wayne and his brother have been the biggest influences on his football career, both former Tigers themselves. Having moved to the area 13 years ago, Stiff said the club had embraced him with open arms and he would miss the camaraderie. "This club means everything to me," he said. "The Tigers are an awesome community. Everyone is always looking after each other," Poss said. His advice to the next generation is simple: "Enjoy every moment in the Tigers jumper. Play for your mates, and play hard but fair." Stiff said he had given his all for the Tigers, but the club had been able to give him so much more. "Playing for this club and representing this community has meant everything to me. I'm going to be lost without footy, it has kept me together, and I owe so much to the game," he said. For front rower Josh Clark, the win marks the end of a healthy playing career, but also two decades since his last premiership, winning with the Armidale Rams in under 18s in 2006. Clark recently told ACM he'd love to go out on a high, which he has now. "I haven't actually won a grand final since 2006, so it would be nice to go out with one in 2026," he said with a laugh. He praised the work of coach Greg Ryan, but also the work of the committee to engage players and the wider community. "The club couldn't be in a better spot, the committee definitely needs to be rewarded in some way." Highlighting the result even further, Poss was named best on ground in the reserve grade grand final.