By Gary Stocks
A new-look North Beach combination will open the season
against 2011 runner-up Mt Lawley at Charles Riley Reserve tomorrow.
Up to half the team will feature in the distinctive Beach
strip for the first time, with a number of recruits earning the early
opportunity, along with some home-grown talent that has come through the colts
system.
Some of the notable inclusions are West Perth trio Josh
Pearce, Kyle Holden and Alistair Clark, while Josh Bubnich is poised to make
his debut after spending his first year out of the colts system in Kalgoorlie
at the school of mines.
Ruckman David Martin, from Sydney club North Shore, talented
forward Ryan Underwood and midfielder Scott Hahn are also among those who will
debut for the club in a match which will give an early indicator as to the team’s
prospects.
Of course, there also a number of North Beach stalwarts in
the line-up as well, with co-captains Anthony “Chooka” Ingham and Kyle Riemann
leading the list of established senior players, along with defender Reece
Cunningham, ruckman Alex Hack and powerhouse utility player Aaron Jarvis.
The Beach takes in relatively good pre-season form, although
the practice match series ended with a defeat at the hands of West Coast Cowan.
The A-Reserves will also have a sprinkling of fresh faces
with Kris Hackett, Ben Sweeney and Ned Melvin all coming up for their first
taste of senior football after graduating through the colts while Nick Raymond
gets his first opportunity.
It should be a big day at the Beach, with the action starting
with the Phil Scott Colts team playing at 10.45am, followed by the A-Reserves at
12.35 and then the seniors at 2.30pm.
The list of newcomers, as one would expect because of the natural
turn-over created by the age restriction, will begin in the colts, with only
four second-year colts in the team. There are some exciting young players on
offer and certainly worth the effort to get down to Chas Riley for an early
peek.
Congratulations to Aaron Miller, a new player to the club,
on being named captain on Thursday and his support across the squad will come
from Glenn Pullella, Tim Grapiglia, Nick Tester and Alex Barden.
The club will be looking for strong performances across all
seven grades, with the Brett Jones colts playing CBC Fremantle, the threes and
fours competing against arch rivals Whitford at McDonald Reserve and the fifth
grade team playing at Percy Doyle at 3pm.
Good look to all.
