It’s time to engage the North Beach army!
As the battle for glory intensifies, the club’s legion of members and supporters need to replicate seasons past, get in number and voice and urge our teams to victory.
The 19th man for North Beach has carried the club across the line in big finals in the past and with the heat rising at the same rate as the stakes on offer, it’s time to get out in force. (Vocal support is encouraged, but keep language in check and maintain respect for the opposition. Support our teams as strongly as you like).
It all ramps up from tomorrow; three teams advanced to the lower grade grand finals last Saturday and we have the club’s two senior teams in action tomorrow.
The O’Rourke Realty A-Grade plays in the first semi-final against University at Charles Riley Reserve while the Lifenet A-Reserves play in the second semi-final against Curtin University-Wesley at South Oval.
The A-Grade team, having finished the season in second position with just one defeat, is now in the situation of taking the ‘survive and advance’ mindset with another sudden death final the reward should the Beach win this clash.
And clearly the Scholars represent a significant challenge as they produced some of their best football of the season at the back end of the year.
While disappointed with the result in last week’s qualifying final, losing by 10 points to Kingsway at home, the quality of the football was exceptional, although the Beach will be looking for a stronger presence around the stoppages.
To that end, the inclusion of Steve Mansfield will help as he returns from an ankle injury that ruled him out last week.
Shane Paap will also be looking for a little more from some of the senior players who were down last week. Mitch Dwyer did all he could and had good support from ruckman Mitch Mackenzie, forward Nic Reid and defenders Christian Bottechia, Ned Halley and Dan Leishman but too many fell short of their usual benchmarks.
The Lifenet A-Reserves will be looking to become the fourth North Beach team to advance directly to the grand final, having finished the season unbowed at the top of the table.
Unfortunately, by quirk of fate, they play Curtin-Wesley at South Oval, the opposition’s home deck, because their senior team finished on top of the table and will host Kingsway in the A-Grade second semi-final.
They should have the capacity to handle that situation as they search for a fifth straight reserve grade premiership under Scott Holbrook.
O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
First semi-final
North Beach v University, Charles Riley Reserve, 2.30pm
Lifenet A-Reserves
Second semi-final
North Beach v Curtin University-Wesley, South Oval, 12.35pm
