By Gary Stocks
The opportunity to play on one of this country’s marquee days will be a strong focal point for coach David Hynes and his North Beach team as they attempt to collect their first points of the 2015 campaign.
After falling agonisingly short in the opening two rounds, the Beach will be looking to capitalise on opportunities created when they play another club, Kalamunda, which is searching for its first win of the season.
The Beach has not done a lot wrong in the opening two rounds, but has failed to make the most during periods of domination. It will be a focus for the O’Rourke Realty A-Grade team to hit the scoreboard hard when those chances present against Kalamunda.
Some of the senior players will attend the dawn service at the revamped North Beach memorial, adjacent to the club’s new facilities at Charles Riley Reserve.
The Stirling City Council has done a remarkable job with the precinct at the traditional home of The Beach and the RSL memorial is a feature.
The occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Gallipoli landing will be an emotional day for the majority of Australians and captain Beau Witheridge and his teammates will draw on that inspiration as they get a rare opportunity to play on the most meaningful day on our calendar.
To mark the occasion, the club will also have a special pre-game ceremony, including a bugler who will play the last post and both clubs will stand attention to the national anthem.
Clearly this is a big day at The Beach and the club urges all supporters to get to the venue and join in the commemoration. The players will look to uphold the values and traditions of the day.
Hynes and his match committee have made several changes to the team for this clash, with young utility player Nick Reid, rebounding defender Matt Irvine and half-back Adam Duff earning an opportunity.
Irvine, who was unavailable for the opening game of the season, has been a regular member of the A-Grade team in the last few years and will bring both experience and skill to the team while Duff is a ‘heart and soul’ player who gives everything he has to the team cause.
Reid has taken an unusual path back into senior football, being elevated from the Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade to earn a place in the seniors.
An outstanding junior who made his senior debut as a 17-year-old, Reid has returned to the Beach after a stint at Claremont, but made a late decision to play in 2015. That was why he started in the thirds, but was clearly a class above those around him.
With injuries to those who deserved elevation from the Credent Financial Services A-Reserves, Reid was next in line and deserves his chance.
