Mark Bayliss out to make history in chase for Great Southern Football League three-peat with Railways

Experienced coach Mark Bayliss says the prospect of winning a third straight Great Southern Football League premiership was a driving factor in his decision to stay on for one more season at the helm of the Tigers. The former Collingwood player took on the role as Tigers league coach in 2021 and led them to back-to-back premierships in 2021 and 2022. Bayliss led the Tigers to an upset grand final win over Royals in 2021 before defeating Albany in last season’s decider. The Tigers boast a strong list of talent, the majority who are expected to return in 2023, as they chase an elusive third straight premiership which has never been achieved in the club’s 77-year history. “It was pretty important factor, that opportunity to go for a three-peat,” Bayliss said. “They don’t come along often, in fact if you ever look at it there’s not many opportunities to ever go for three in a row. “It’s probably going to be the hardest year ever to achieve it, I think other clubs this year will do a lot of recruiting.” Bayliss is confident the nucleus of the playing list holds the Tigers in good stead to remain at the top of the hill in 2023. “We’re just going to go with our current group and hopefully we are good enough at the end of the year,” he said. “We’re looking at establishing ourselves long term as a club, concentrating on building the financial side of things. “You put yourself in a forward position straight away with the same group, we’ve lost a couple but we’ve also picked up a couple with young kids that have come back. “It’s like anything in football, you lose some and get some back but those clubs who are recruiting like the Sharks, they will lose a couple and pick up a couple so they’ll be around the same ball park again too. The leadership of the group is great, they all rally together and sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t but they always rally together and support each other. “They’re a very encouraging group, you can’t replace that because if you change that culture of the group, you’ll lose the group so I think you’re better off embracing it.” Bayliss confirmed this will be his last at the helm of the club. “I was only planning one year, this will definitely be my last year, I can see myself with the playing group this year and I can see them with a new structure for next year,” Bayliss said. The Tigers have reappointed Jack Hastie as reserves coach and Mitch Green as colts coach, while Doug McLeod will coach the 16s.