After a solid week on the training track, North Beach is preparing for its second big challenge in as many weeks as it prepares to tackle Trinity-Aquinas at Bill Grayden Reserve tomorrow.
After locking horns with the competition’s big improver, Collegians, last Saturday the Beach now confronts another of the WAAFL’s early season pace-setters and will be looking to take the game up to the ladder leader.
Against Collegians the Beach paid dearly for skill errors when pushing forward and looking to score, only to turn the ball over and being burnt on the rebound. Collegians were cleaner with their disposal and that was the catalyst for a four-goal win.
The Beach won more than their share of the contested football and with Kyle Holden in good touch up forward, always looked dangerous and with better supply they can put genuine pressure on Trinity-Aquinas.
One of the issues for senior coach Bill Duckworth and his assistants has been establishing any sort of stability in the team, with injury and unavailability again causing a number of changes.
They will, however, welcome back Josh Pearce who will make a difference through the midfield with his class and experience while Jackson Harwood has earned a recall on the strength of some outstanding form in the A-Reserves.
He has been consistently strong in the undefeated reserves team and will be looking to make the most of this opportunity. Also coming into the team is premiership wingman Steve Bandy, defender Jake Robinson, experienced and clever midfielder Tom Hazell and Jason Hall, another man who has been exceptional in the first month in the reserves.
The Beach is ready for the challenge and will be keen to return to the winners’ circle.
The A-Reserves could hardly have been more impressive under coach Michael Pratt and will also be looking forward to a contest with a club that has consistently been strong through all grades.
Pratt has his team playing cohesive team football and that will need to continue against TAs who have been one of the better performed teams in the competition this season.
The Phil Scott colts face a big challenge against a team that has been the benchmark in recent seasons and one that has been the best-performed in the opening month. The North Beach colts, however, produced their best effort of the season against Collegians and will be looking to sustain that effort in this match.
North Beach will play Trinity-Aquinas in six matches at the weekend, with the A-Grade fixtures played at the opposition’s Como base, while the D1, D1-Reserves and Brett Jones Colts will play matches at Charles Riley Reserve.
Peter Panagopolous and his boys will play Whitford at Percy Doyle at 2.30pm.
