By Tom Torpille
IN one of the biggest upsets in local football history, North defeated South by two points to win the 2024 premiership.
The South juggernaut had only lost one game for the year and were aiming for six consecutive titles.
It was not to be as North veteran Quinton Beavan emerged the hero.
With his side trailing by four points and with 45 seconds left on the clock he won a free kick from a high tackle; calmly walked back, and from 25 metres out slotted the most important kick of his career.
The goal put the Bulldogs in front by two points, and they hung on in the dying seconds to win a remarkable game and the most unlikely of premierships.
“You dream of those moments as a little kid,” Beavan said post-match.
“We practice that shot over and over again, and nine times out of ten I would miss it but today I kicked it.”
It was game that had the large crowd on the edge of their seats.
The Bulldogs started in fine fashion and led at every change.
The three-four goal breeze favoured the old brewery city end pocket.
The outside run and pace of North were worrying South and when the Bulldogs went forward, Shane Dalby was unstoppable with five first half goals, his form forcing South coach Craig Thomas to send Arlen Bird back to curb his influence.
“Dalby is playing like Wayne Carey,” Thomas said to his bench.
The half-time break had North leading by 16 points and with the aid of the breeze they extended their lead to 24 points at three quarter time.
As you would expect from a quality team and with the breeze picking up, South lifted in the final term to kick four goals to snatch the lead courtesy of a Michael Westley six pointer with two minutes to play.
His goal sent the red and white supporters into raptures with one even jumping the fence to celebrate with the players.
The resulting centre bounce was the decider as 16-year-old North ruckman Ryder Wilson won the hit out to Fletcher Kolinac who kicked into the north forward line, a chain of handballs and a final deep kick from McAllister resulted in the Beavan free kick.
When the siren sounded players from both teams slumped to the ground exhausted, a mix of jubilation for North and despair for South.
The victors had several stars on the day led by their co-captains Jayden Kelly and Shane Dalby.
The smooth moving Kelly won the Stan Brooks Medal. As best on ground he was everywhere, in the middle, floating across half back and going forward where he finished with two goals.
I mentioned Dalby’s five goals, throw in the goal assists, and in the second half he spent time as a loose man in defence repelling South attacks and fittingly had the ball in his hands when the final siren sounded.
The biggest job on the day went to Harry Lunn who lined up on Broken Hill’s greatest every goalkicker, Codie Schorn and kept him goalless. The other key defensive role of Tom Cahill managing to quell the forward line influence of Holmes and Browne.
The young brigade was superb, Logan Ferguson showed his class, the run of Tarrant Pitt, Fletcher Kolinac, Kale McAllister along with senior players Tyler McInnes and Nash Mitchell were instrumental in the win.
The Roos had several players who stood up, Riley Schorn across half back, Marcus Purcell booted three goals, Dylan Browne in the ruck never gave up, likewise Marc Purcell and Todd Davidson.
It was a case of deja vu for North Coach David Ruddock. His first year of coaching was in 2004 almost 20 years to the day and the grand final result then was a two-point win to North over South.
“I had not even thought about it, I’m a bit worn out to be honest it was a great game of football,” he said.
“We had our match-ups which worked for us, and the run and spread was what we wanted.”
As celebrations in the North rooms were in full swing, South coach Craig Thomas was left to lament what may have been.
“We were not hungry enough,” he said. “We were second to the ball at times and we probably only played three quarters of a quarter.”
As the lights dimmed on another season of football those that were at Jubilee Oval left knowing they had just witnessed one of the great grand finals.
Best players: ( N ) Jayden Kelly, Shane Dalby, Harry Lunn, Logan Ferguson, Kale Mc Allister, Tyler McInnes, Quinton Beavan, Tom Cahill, Jack Turner
(S) Riley Schorn, Dylan Browne, Marcus Purcell, Todd Davidson, Marc Purcell
Goalkickers: ( N ) Shane Dalby 5, Jayden Kelly 2, Logan Ferguson 1, Fletcher Kolinac 1, Cooper Oates 1, Quinton Beavan 1
(S) Marcus Purcell 3, Todd Davidson 2, Marc Purcell 2, Michael Westley 1, Jordan Holmes 1, Nate Sparrow 1
