By Gary Stocks
Bloop-blaa-bloor….Bloop-blaaa-bloor! It’s tough, in word, to replicate the sound of a bugler, sitting atop a white stallion, leading the cavalry over the hill to the rescue. But make no mistakes the troops are coming.
After making six changes in each of the last two weeks – with high quality and seasoned A-Grade players exiting through injury – finally it appears some of those top shelf players are due to return.
With no disrespect to some of the young players who have deserved an opportunity with the O’Rourke Realty North Beach A-Grade outfit, it does take time to become established at the top level of a highly competitive league.
And those youngsters have not only acquitted themselves well, they have provided great optimism for the future. Doubtless they will benefit from the experience and will get further opportunities because they have the tools to be successful top flight amateur players.
But it is hard not to get excited about players of the calibre of Kyle Holden, Aaron Jarvis and Tim Nelli returning to add some strength to the team as it prepares for the challenge of combatting a seasoned Trinity-Aquinas combination at Bill Grayden Reserve.
It is not yet life and death for the Beach, but it is starting to get tight.
North Beach is in sixth position, a game behind Trinity-Aquinas, who occupy fifth position on the table and the consequences of this game could be season defining.
The Beach has lost badly in the past fortnight to ladder leader Fremantle CBC and last year’s premiers Wesley Curtin and the time has come to beat some of those teams sitting above them to ensure finals action.
Those clashes could not have come at a more challenging time with a string of injuries coinciding with the departure of a handful of senior players on overseas escapades.
But the senior squad must now collectively dust themselves off, readjust and get the season back on track. To do so requires a return to winning football and there is no better place to start than against Trinity Aquinas this week.
The Credent Financial Services A-Reserves have also fallen off the pace and sit in sixth position, but are just two points adrift of fifth place. They, too, will benefit from the influx of top end talent and will be keen to resume the quality of football that marked their early season form.
Fixtures Saturday, July 19
O’Rourke Realty A-Grade
Trinity Aquinas v North Beach, Bill Grayden Reserve, 2.30pm
Credent Financial Services A-Reserves
Trinity Aquinas v North Beach, Bill Grayden Reserve, 12.35pm
Coast to Coast Imports Phil Scott Colts
Trinity Aquinas v North Beach, Bill Grayden Reserve Reserve, 10.40am
Cabling Network Solutions D1-Grade
North Beach v Trinity Aquinas, Percy Doyle Oval, 2.30pm
Hybrid Linings D1-Reserves
North Beach v Trinity Aquinas, Percy Doyle Oval, 12.35pm
Brett Jones Colts North Beach v Trinity Aquinas, Percy Doyle Oval, 10.40am
Express Bins E2-Grade
North Beach v Ballajura, Charles Riley Reserve, 2.30pm
