The perfect day for North Shore started with our young Bombers, the Under 19.5s Division One team, as they took the field against Sydney Uni for their Grand Final.
North Shore has a long history of developing young talent and it didn’t take long this season to realise that this group was capable of achieving something special. There was plenty of talent and skill, but also a willingness to put the work in and to keep learning.
Week after week the results kept coming. We were undefeated through the regular season, with a percentage of 324, and there were plenty of growth opportunities for players, with a number of them getting a run in Premier Division, as well as in the Reserves and other open-age divisions. Mid-season, when numbers were tight, some players put their hands up to double up and play an open-age game after their Under 19s game. Great club spirit, and we really appreciate it.
Completing an unbeaten regular season, and then holding Manly to a single goal in the Major Semi-Final.
Going undefeated before the Grand Final will get you to the premiership decider, but doesn’t win it. You’ve still got to turn up on the day and get it done. And there’ll be a determined challenger waiting. That challenger was Sydney Uni.
We didn’t get to play them at Sydney Uni No 1 after a last-minute ground closure; but we’d beaten them comfortably enough at Gore Hill. But a Grand Final is a whole new ball game.
During the week, Cooper Hawtin’s outstanding season was recognised as he won the league’s Keeley Medal as best-and-fairest for the league. But he wasn’t able to play the Grand Final, a big out.
But we had 22 players fit and ready to go. The sun had come out and Blacktown International Sportspark was looking a treat.
It was a nervous start, but that’s understandable. The stakes were high, and our Bombers were cautious early. The Students scored the first two goals and we found ourselves 14 points down midway through the first term.
But the vibe felt different when Max Toohey calmly snapped our first goal. We were in this. And when Toohey, back in his age grade after a run in Premier Division late in the season, marked and kicked truly, we had the lead.
At the start of the second quarter, Jack Harty found himself sent to the sin bin for 15 minutes. It was an unfortunate blemish for someone who otherwise had an outstanding Grand Final. While he was off, Uni took the lead; but late in the second term George Taylor dribbled a goal through to put us a point in front at the long break.
It had been an arm-wrestle through the first half. Sydney Uni were giving us a run for our money, and our young Bombers needed to lift. We hadn’t come this far to only come this far.
Taylor’s goal in the early exchanges of the third quarter gave us the edge on the scoreboard. The run of play was going our way, the ball was in our forward half most of the time. Scoring chances opened up, but four of them sailed wide of the big sticks. It was still tense, we hadn’t put them away yet.
But when Max Yeoland stuck out his arms and got the ball to stick, you could feel the mood shift when he kicked truly. After a tight arm-wrestle for two-and-a-half quarters, the momentum was running our way. 16 points up at the last change, we weren’t going to drop this.
Sydney Uni had fought hard, but in the last quarter they had nothing more to give. Our young Bombers had broken them. And in the last quarter, it was time to get paid.
In the opening minute, Will Carlaw found the big sticks. Two in a minute for Toohey, and how do you feel? Pretty good if you’re a Bomber. Max Yeoland crumbed another, then Toby Loebel got into the goal-scoring action.
It’s raining goals, and the Bomber faithful in the grandstand are lapping it up. Some of the Premier Division players have arrived early for their Grand Final so they can support the Under 19s; and they’re loving this. Cooper Clarke adds another, then it’s Jack Harty’s turn to go long and get on the scoreboard. Donald’s goal is our eighth for the quarter and secures a 51-point win.
A 51-point Grand Final win. For much of the day it looked set to be much closer. But in the end, the class, skill and flair of our Bombers prevailed; and the floodgates opened in the final term.
The siren sounds, the premiership is ours. Players embrace in the middle of the ground; and within seconds they’re joined by the Under 19s Division Two squad, players from other grades, players families, club volunteers and stalwarts. It takes many to make a premiership happen.
After a four goal haul, Max Toohey is awarded the best-on-ground medal; in what must have been a close call from Jarvis Hemmings, Charlie Brownlaw and Jack Harty. The players receive their medal. Coach Paul Clarke and Captain Luke Fish receive the cup, and the entire team joins them on stage to lap up the moment. The culmination of an outstanding season.
They won’t all play together again. Some may go to test themselves in stronger leagues around the country. Some will be too old for Under 19.5s next year and will make their way into Premier Division or through the divisions, their journey at North Shore taking them in a new direction in 2025.
But this is a moment they will always share. When a group of outstanding young men completed an undefeated season; and in doing so became better footballers and better people.
MENS UNDER 19.5s DIVISION ONE
GRAND FINAL
| North Shore | 2.4.16 | 3.6.24 | 5.11.41 | 13.13.91 |
| Sydney Uni | 2.3.15 | 3.5.23 | 3.7.25 | 5.10.40 |
Goals – M Toohey 4, M Yeoland 2, W Carlaw, C Clarke, C Donald, M Folkes, J Harty, T Loebel, G Taylor.
Best – M Toohey, C Brownlaw, J Hemmings, J Harty, C Donald, H Charles.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 21st September 2024.
