By Gary Stocks
Every week is a big week in A-Grade amateur football.
And tomorrow at Charles Riley Reserve, the O’Rourke Realty A-Grade team faces an important clash against Kelmscott.
It has been a challenging season for the Beach, one mixed with the excitement of a group of young stars filtering through, the next generation showing they can guide the club back to the pinnacle, and the occasional disappointing performance.
They are coming off one of those disappointing matches, particularly in the second half when they fell away and eventually were beaten by University by around 15 goals. It was one of those days when, up until a few minutes before half time, they looked in pretty good shape, but conceded a couple of late goals before the floodgates opened.
It is a matter of putting that behind them as they now focus on the next challenge against the Bulldogs when another big crowd is expected at the club’s state-of-the-art home base.
It’s ladies day at the club. A chance to recognise the women who have helped shape the club into what it is today, either in a voluntary capacity at the coal face, or simply by supporting their husbands, boyfriends and partners so they can represent the club each week.
The contribution that women have made to North Beach has been significant and this game represents the chance to pay due respect.
It’s also Lymphoma Awareness Day, where the players will contribute match fees of $25 and wear coloured laces in recognition of the illness. This is acutely relevant to North Beach because one of our emerging young players, Kade Golisano is battling the disease.
And respect will be a key element of what the players will be looking to create onfield. They have the respect of each other as teammates, are united in what they want to achieve and have earned the respect of club stalwarts throughout the season.
Certainly, when playing at home this year, the Beach has been a formidable opponent. They have won on a couple of occasions, have lost by just a kick against competition benchmarks Wesley Curtin and University and will be looking to secure four points in this clash.
They will welcome back defender Ben Sweeny, runner-up in the fairest and best last year, but who has missed the bulk of this season with injury. Also coming into the team are Peter Harvey and the clever Jacob Griffiths.
While the A-Grade team will confront an inconsistent, but classy Kelmscott, the Credent Financial Services A-Reserves should carry too much firepower for their opponents and the same could be said of the Coast to Coast Imports Phil Scott Colts.
The colts have again been outstanding this season and last week produced an amazing reversal from the opening round when they completely outplayed University. It is worth getting along early to watch these youngsters strut their stuff.
Fixtures O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
North Beach v Kelmscott, Charles Riley Reserve, 2.30pm
Credent Financial Services A-Reserves
North Beach v Kelmscott, Charles Riley Reserve, 12.35pm
Coast to Coast Imports Phil Scott Colts
North Beach v Kelmscott, Charles Riley Reserve, 10.40am
Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade
University v North Beach, McGillivray Oval, 2.30pm
Hybrid Linings D1-Reserves
University v North Beach, McGillivray Oval, 12.35pm
Red Hill Brett Jones Colts
University v North Beach, McGillivray Oval, 10.40am
Express Bins E1-Grade
North Beach v Quinns District, Percy Doyle Oval, 2.30pm
