Right. Forget about anything that’s happened in the last five months, all that matters is what occurs from this moment forward.
The preliminaries are done and dusted, now we are at the pointy end and Charles Riley Reserve will host some big finals, with two massive games running concurrently on the main oval and the northern ground from 2.30pm tomorrow.
The O’Rourke Realty A-Grade, who finished the regular season in second position, will play Kingsway in the qualifying final. Adjacent to them will be the C5-Grade qualifying final with the Hybrid Linings North Beach outfit playing North Fremantle in what looms as another classic battle.
And the prelude to the C5-Grade match will see the Beast Carpet Cleaning C5-Reserves lock horns with Curtin University-Wesley. The club’s thirds and fourths had the benefit of a week off to regroup after finishing the qualifying rounds on top of the ladder.
That same opportunity exists for the Lifenet A-Reserves, who have this weekend off after an unbeaten season. They will, of course, add their voices to the North Beach army as the club goes into battle on such a big day.
The A-Grade will be looking for an improved performance on the last time they met the Roos, at Kingsway Reserve a month ago, when they lost their only game of the season. It was enough to tip them out of top spot on the table.
Over the last three weeks, they have responded, building each week with strong wins over Trinity-Aquinas, University and Collegians.
Shane Paap will be hoping that momentum continues to build with an important element of the lift in form being the influence of some of the younger players in that period, Jack McIntosh, Dylan Brockbernd and Shannon Lucassen.
As well, Nic Reid resumed from a hamstring injury last week and kicked eight goals, while Mitch Gill, Craig Hoskins, Steve Mansfield and Andrew McGuinness have also been important contributors along with skipper Mitch Dwyer.
Down back, the rebound of Christian Bottechia and Dan Leishman will be important while Mitch Mackenzie and James Garcia represent a strong threat in front of goal.
Kingsway also boast some firepower up front through Kyle Hartigan and Jordan Bestry while Rhys Waters is important to them through the middle.
The Hybrid Linings C5-Grade finished the season as minor premier, but understand North Fremantle is a vastly different team to the one they confronted early in the season. With coach Glen Hinkley recovering from major surgery, the thirds will be guided by Bill Duckworth.
The return of Craig Hall will be important to them, while Mitch and Josh Cameron are a ubiquitous presence up forward.
The Beast Carpet Cleaning C5-Reserves also led the competition at the end of the qualifying rounds, although they stumbled in the final round against Wesley.
They have picked a powerful line-up and look in good shape as they prepare for direct route through to the grand final.
The Beyond Tools E2-Grade will look carry momentum forward from an epic qualifying final victory – the winner coming after double overtime – when they play Bassendean at Jubilee Reserve in the second semi-final.
Their back end of the season has been exemplary and they have built strong belief.
The same could be said for the two colts teams.
The Plasterwise Phil Scott Colts play Curtin University-Wesley in the first semi-final at McGillivray Oval. While they have faltered against quality opponents in the last month, they know they are competitive and if they capitalise on opportunities they are capable of advancing to the next challenge.
They will also be re-assured by the fact that one of their best performances of the season came at the venue, albeit University charged home to beat them by a couple of points.
The Indian Ocean Hotel Brett Jones Colts have been on a roll in the last six weeks and are playing with great spirit and enthusiasm. They confront Swan Athletic in the knowledge they beat them in the last qualifying round and will again look to complete this assignment and move through to the preliminary final.
Fixtures
Saturday, August 28
O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
Qualifying Final
North Beach v Kingsway, Charles Riley Reserve, 2.30pm
Plasterwise Phil Scott Colts
Elimination Final
Curtin University-Wesley v North Beach, McGillivray Oval, 10.40am
Indian Ocean Hotel Brett Jones Colts
First semi-final
Swan Athletic v North Beach, Bill Grayden Reserve, 10.40am
Hybrid Linings C5-Grade
Qualifying Final
North Beach v North Fremantle, Charles Riley Reserve (2), 2.30pm
Beast Carpet Cleaning C5-Reserves
Qualifying Final
North Beach v Curtin University-Wesley, Charles Riley Reserve (2), 12,35pm
Beyond Tools E2-Grade
Second Semi-Final
Bassendean v North Beach, Jubilee Reserve, 2.30pm
Lifenet A-Reserves
Bye
