Throughout history, a number of sporting organisations have developed an almost myth-like respect for specific jumper numbers as a result of the legends who have donned its colours. Some of these jumpers are retired out of respect for the original wearer, while some are passed down from generation to generation as quality players leave their individual imprint upon the fabric of the numbers history. One such jumper of the latter nature for the Queanbeyan Tigers is the number two, which has been worn by club legend Tony Wynd, journeyman Mark Armstrong and currently by former club captain Ryan Quade.
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Four-time Mulrooney medallist Wynd spent 19 years with the club in a career spanning from 1980 to 1999, while Armstrong began playing with the Tigers in 1993, originally finishing up in 2010, before returning for a single season last year to help a fledgling first grade outfit seal the 2015 premiership title. Quade, who first played with the club in 2003, is hoping for a similar end to his career considering both Wynd and Armstrong finished theirs in the number two in winning grand finals against Belconnen, both scoring a crucial goal with their final kicks in football.
“We both finished with a premiership, and our last kicks were both goals, pretty handy ones in the weight of the game and the scores were close, so there were some real similarities and it was a nice way to go out,” Armstrong said.
“My last kick came from him [Armstrong] in ‘99 because he was having a shot for goal and I thought ‘He’s too far out unless he hits it clean so I’ll stand over here in the clear’ and he kicked it, with just a little snap it was in my hands,” Wynd said.
“We really hope Ryan goes out with a flag too.”
Although this will be Quade’s 11th season with the Tigers, he still has a number of years left in the tank at the ripe age of 31, and said he would love to be as lucky as his predecessors in the end.
“Being given the number two was a big honour and I was aware at the time of the significance of it and the fact that Tony Wynd had worn it,” Quade said.
“He’s the games record holder and holds so many records across Queanbeyan, the league and ACT sport in general so it was a huge honour to be able to play in that number and I was really proud to be able to do that.
“To win a premiership is rare but to finish your career on a premiership and with a goal is pretty amazing stuff and if I was lucky enough to do that it would be great but to be honest I wouldn’t care if I didn’t get a kick, if we were able to win a premiership that would be enough.”
