Head Coach Josh Duffy signed off at the recent Mayne Tigers Presentation Night at Tattersalls after four years leading the Senior Team but the legacy that he leaves behind runs so much deeper than these seasons.
Duffy came to Queensland and indeed the Mayne Tigers as part of one of the most important signings that the club made in the modern era. The Tigers were building something very special by the end of 2012 with a very good emerging list that just needed an X factor to top it off. Enter two young men from down Albury way in Shaun Daly and Josh Duffy, both with Premiership experience who were looking for a new life in the Sunshine State. Daly was a Morris Medal winner in the Ovens and Murray League while Duffy was a handy player from Howlong and the two of them were best mates.
Daly made an immediate impact taking out the Tigers top gong in the Keith Beavis Trophy in 2013 and in turn assumed the head coaching role in 2014 after a year’s apprenticeship under Mitch Ferguson. He led the Tigers to their first premiership in 32 years and also repeated it the following year along with two more Club Champion Trophies. As much as Daly is now a famous Tiger story to be regaled for decades to come, the second part of the story is arguably just as important in the history of the Tigers.
Josh Duffy as the unassuming sidekick to the Daly show has proved over the last eleven years to be a leader in the enduring change that the Tigers needed to sustain the good work that had started over a decade ago. A qualified maths teacher who lives and breathes football, he has left an indelible mark on the Mayne Tigers as a player, a coach and a hard working volunteer.
Duffy enjoyed the Premiership success with his mate Daly in 2014 in the Senior Group, was integral to the Squad’s success again in 2015, this time being a key member of the Reserve Grade Premiership. Director of Football at the time Danny Craven saw Duffy’s potential as a mentor and convinced him to Coach the Reserves in 2016 which proved to be the beginning of a love affair with the role. Duffy played in the 2016 Senior Premiership side but steered the Reserves to their third premiership in three years as well. Coaching the Reserves for another three years culminated in one of the best Reserves Premiership wins of all time defeating a star studded Noosa outfit as a playing coach in 2019.
The 2019 win was the catalyst for him to take on the Senior team in 2020. However, it proved to be one of the most difficult periods for the country, let alone the Tigers with the Covid years impacting planning and development immensely. Fortunately for the Mayne Tigers, Josh Duffy was just the man for the job keeping the squad on track to make the 2020 Grand Final. A modicum of luck was needed to get over the rampaging Noosa Tigers but injuries to key players impacted Mayne’s ability to win that one. The ensuing three years have been a roller coaster with more Covid, flood affected seasons and some more unfortunate luck with injuries.
However, Duffy leaves a strong developing squad with great potential for success in the coming years. He has worked tirelessly on creating a harmonious environment with a balance of experience and youth. The recent success of the Reserve Grade can be attributed to his management of the coaching group and the entire playing squad as one unit.
Duffy was awarded Life Membership of the Tigers last year for his ten years of dedicated service and will forever be acknowledged as one of the most successful players and coaches in the club’s history with ten premierships being recorded in the senior club during his time in the playing and coaching group.
Josh now moves into the next exciting phase of his life with his partner Alicia Zadow as they await the imminent arrival of their first child.
The Tigers would like to acknowledge and thank Josh for his wonderful service to date in the full knowledge that he has plenty more to give over the years to come.
The Tigers will be announcing their new coaching lineup shortly.
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