GIANT SIGNS FOR TIGERS

FOUR years of trying to lure one of the SFL’s star players has finally paid off for the Tigers, with the TSL club hopeful its boom new signing can fill the void up forward it desperately needs.

Huonville captain Michael Paul — who has been among the top handful of players in the SFL for several years — has put pen to paper with the Tigers for the 2019 season.

The athletic big man has been arguably the premier ruckman at the lower level, but is armed with a huge leap and ability to pull down pack marks. Tigers coach Trent Baumeler is hoping Paul can become the key forward target the side has craved almost its entire existence.

“It’s been a long journey, I was talking to ‘MD’ [Marcus Davies] yesterday and I think the club has talked to Mick for the last four pre-seasons,” Baumeler told the Mercury.

“It has been four years of work trying to get him up to the club.

“He gives us something that clearly everyone identified we lacked, that big presence up forward or that goalkicker.

“Mick takes a catch and he can kick some goals so we are going to let him play to his strengths and let him do the things he is really good at first and foremost.”

While some dominant SFL and Old Scholars players have struggled to adjust to the jump in standard of the State League, Baumeler believes Paul has the attributes to become a legitimate force.

However he won’t be adding extra pressure on the former Mariner to become the club’s saviour as it looks to become a genuine finals contender.

“What he gives us is a bit of shape, a focal point, someone to kick the ball to, someone who is going to take the best defender every week,” Baumeler said.

“All we will ask of him, like anyone, is to come in and play to his strengths and we will do our best to bring his strengths out so he can have an impact on the competition.

“It will be exciting to see how he goes, obviously we don’t know until the whips start cracking and he gets in there and plays his first game.”

Paul played a handful of TSL games with Glenorchy in 2013 before moving to Queensland then returning to the Lions, where he has spent the majority of his career.