North Beach has one premiership in the bag already and is hoping to add the biggest catch of them all when the A-grade shoots for a fifth successive flag against North Fremantle this Saturday.
The Laurie Keene Division colts team triumphed last Saturday, but now the focus will shift to the Bill Duckworth-led A-grade team this week at Medibank Stadium.
The A-grade side was totally dominant against Wesley Curtin in last Saturday’s preliminary final, kicking eight goals in the first quarter to establish victory and provide great confidence for the re-match with the Magpies.
The Tigers had winners all over the ground on the way to an emphatic 64-point victory – 20.9 (129) to 9.11 (65). That finals belief that has been a part of the Beach under the direction of Duckworth, who has already taken the club to seven triumphs, was evident in a near faultless display.
Still smarting from the second semi-final loss to North Fremantle a week earlier, the Beach responded in the most brilliant of displays.
With a number of key senior players rising to the challenge, North Beach find themselves in another grand final.
Shane Paap, Scott Holbrook, Luke Smith, Jacko Harwood and Kyle Reimann were all in stunning form and will be looking to replicate that in the grand final.
Players like Josh McGinnity and Chris Perkin capitalized on those opportunities up forward and always looked dangerous.
Details
Preliminary Final
| North Beach | 8.3 | 13.6 | 17.8 | 20.9 | (129) |
| Wesley Curtin | 1.2 | 2.4 | 5.8 | 9.11 | (65) |
| Goals | McGinnity 4; Perkin 3; Boys, S Pearce, O’Donnell, M Holbrook, Reimann 2; Heap, C Pearce, Pittman 1. | ||||
| Best | Paap, S Holbrook, Smith, Harwood, Reimann. | ||||
In the Laurie Keene Division grand final, North Beach won its first premiership in that division for 14 years, setting up victory with a brilliant third quarter into the breeze.
North Fremantle started well with the use of the wind of the first term, kicking out to a three-goal lead, but the Tigers responded to the challenge.
On the back of some strong work from Fraser Graham, who won best afield honours, the Beach kicked quick goals with the breeze and scores were level at half-time.
In the third term, with North Beach increasing their work rate and applying wonderful defensive pressure, the winning break was established, the Beach turning a couple of goals clear.
Justin Plant, Alex Luck, Trevor Lang and Vaughan Elson were exceptional in the back half as they constantly repelled North Fremantle attacking moves. In addition Simon Wilson, Jason Vry, Rory Fagan, Tim Elliott and Daniel Stocks were strong through the midfield and Brett Lague was exerting some influence on a wing.
The message from coaches Dave Barwick and Gary Stocks was clear at three quarter-time. Having set the game up it was imperative to sustain the work rate. And the players certainly did that.
David Ollerenshaw provided a reliable focal point deep in attack and such was the determination of the Beach boys, they were not about to allow this opportunity to slip.
Details
Laurie Keene Colts
| North Beach | 0.1 | 4.7 | 6.8 | 8.12 | (60) |
| North Frem | 3.0 | 3.1 | 5.1 | 5.2 | (32) |
| Goals | Graham 3; Ollerenshaw 2; O’Kane, Lague, Hepcal. | ||||
| Best | Graham, Plant, Luck, Elson, Wilson, Vry, Vagnoni, Fagan. | ||||
Unfortunately, later in the day, the E-grade team was out-pointed in a grand final against Collbellup, while the Phil Scott Colts Division team was beaten by Scarborough and the A-reserve team bowed out in the preliminary final.
The effort across all grades made for an exceptional season which hopefully can be rounded off with another A-grade premiership on the weekend.
