A new season dawns. A season that has taken so long coming, has arrived in a rush.
Five months to plot and plan, a pre-season of sweat and pain. And now, finally, there is an opportunity to put into practice all of that work.
With the arrival of a fresh campaign comes all of the usual angst. North Beach senior coach Shane Paap and his players have myriad questions flooding their minds. How will we hold up against the best teams in the competition? Are we good enough to go a step or two further than last year? Are the new faces at the club going to assist that planned ascent?
So, it is with nervous anticipation, that the O’Rourke Realty North Beach A-Grade team contemplates its opening round show-down with revered rival Trinity Aquinas.
The Beach will begin the 2019 campaign in an away match at Bill Grayden Reserve. They will be without regular attacking force Nic Reid, who has been recruited to the West Coast Eagles WAFL team, but, disappointingly suffered a finger tendon injury a fortnight ago.
Sam Lamont is in the frame for the Eagles and will play at nearby Mineral Resources Park against Perth if selected. If he misses the cut he could play for the Beach against the Boomers.
Naturally, there has been some turnover of talent between the agonising last-kick preliminary final defeat against Fremantle CBC and this moment.
Utility player Nathan Dwyer, exciting youngster Darby McCarthy and developing ruckman Josh Chapman have committed to WAFL assaults at various clubs.
North Beach will unveil some new talent, including hard-bodied midfielder Mitch Gill, forward Max Hurley and country recruits Michael Battaglia and Travis Gray. And then there are youngsters like Joe Deegan, a tough inside midfielder of great promise, and uncompromising defender Ned Halley.
Those who have joined the club over summer will enjoy the opportunity to step out in Beach colours for the first time and club supporters will surely enjoy watching them play.
The Lifenet A-Reserves, who begin their quest for a hat trick of premierships under the direction of Scott Holbrook, will also confront the Boomers on their home deck. Again there will be a preponderance of youth in this team as the Beach continues a program of developing and promoting local talent.
The Plasterwise Phil Scott Colts, so productive in loading the assembly line of young talent to advance to senior football, again look to have some class and will be ready for the challenge against TA.
While the senior teams will travel to Como, the other five teams in action on opening day will all play at Charles Riley Reserve.
The Hybrid Linings D1-Grade, Coast to Coast Imports D1-Reserves and the Indian Ocean Hotel Brett Jones Colts will all play on the main oval, starting at 10.40am, while the Beyond Tools E1-Grade and the GJ Osplumb E3-Grade will play on the northern oval.
The Galleria Toyota A-Grade women and Grange I-Grade will both sit out the opening week.
FIXTURES
Round 1
O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
Trinity Aquinas v North Beach, Bill Grayden Reserve, 3 pm
Lifenet A-Reserves
Trinity Aquinas v North Beach, Bill Grayden Reserve, 1.05pm
Plasterwise Phil Scott Colts
Trinity Aquinas v North Beach, Bill Grayden Reserve, 11.10am
Hybrid Linings D1-Grade
North Beach v Wembley, Charles Riley Reserve, 2.30pm
Coast to Coast Imports D1-Reserves
North Beach v Wembley, Charles Riley Reserve, 12.35pm
Indi Bar Brett Jones Colts
North Beach v Whitford, Charles Riley Reserve, 10.40am
Beyond Tools E1-Grade
North Beach v Kingsley, Charles Riley Reserve (2), 2.30pm
GJ Osplumb E3-Grade
North Beach v Melville, Charles Riley Reserve (2), 12.35pm
Galleria Toyota A-Grade Women
Bye
Grange Residential I-Grade
Bye
