Short season doesn't disappoint with derby finale Fri, September 25, 2020 - 11:00 AM

The 2020 Skill Hire A-Grade Grand Final between North Beach and Scarborough provides a local derby with no clear favourite.  North Beach ground out an unattractive win against Scarborough in round six by 21 points after the Sea Eagles were trailing by 8 only points at three quarter time.

North Beach and Scarborough last met in an A-Grade Grand Final in 1998, where Scarborough won by 14 points. Both teams in recent times have seen September action with Scarborough premiers in 2018 and North Beach losing to Trinity Aquinas in 2017.  North Beach must go back ten years for it’s last A-Grade premiership, where in 2010 they ended the most dominant era in the history of amateur football in Australia of 10 A-Grade premierships in 12 years.

North Beach goes into the Grand Final with an older team with an average age of 27 years compared to Scarborough’s 24 years. The Tiger’s boast nine former WAFL players, including ex West Coast Eagles Simon Tunbridge and Adam Cockie. The Sea Eagles boast 12 former WAFL players, including 2018 A-Grade Best and Fairest C.J. Jamieson Medallist, Joel Ashman, who played in the West Coast Eagles Reserve team last season.

The match is shaping up as a battle of the small men, with Ashman no stranger to the big stage having won the B.J. Giles Medal for best player in Scarborough’s 2018 premiership potentially matching up against local North Beach product, Joey Deegan, who came from nowhere with two rounds to go to win this year’s C.J. Jamieson Medal. The North Beach rover will get plenty of service from big man and 2020 C.J. Jamieson Medallist runner up Kyle Cranley with protection from the likes of Cockie and former club Captain Beau Witheridge through the middle. Any overcompensation by Scarborough to nullify Deegan may clear the way for current Captain Mitch Dywer to dominate. The former two times state amateur has been in consistent form all season.

Scarborough’s experience was evident through the last qualifying rounds and finals and will be essential if they are to win.  They have 12 players from the 2018 premiership team playing with the likes of stalwart and 267 gamer Blair Ranford, Chris Baker, Curtis Reddell and Scott Tyers. Scarborough will be relying heavily on this season’s A-Grade leading goal kicker, Scott Worthington, together with power forward Marc Re, to kick a winning score. North Beach’s Mitch Gill the likely to play on Re. Gill, the former state amateur has found a home at Charles Riley Reserve after stints with Kalamunda, Peel and Quairading.

The unfortunate mid-season injury to North Beach full forward Mitch Holbrook, denied the 37 year old the opportunity to match up against Scarborough’s 37 year old, 2018 A-Grade premiership coach, Aiden Parker, who was enticed out of retirement.

North Beach’s Madoc Plane, who cut out Curtin University Wesley’s danger forward Cory Dell’Olio in the 2nd Semi Final, may hold a key tagging role in trying to stop Worthington.  Plane, who was North Beach’s Colts Best and Fairest last year, has a history in big game performances. In 2018, as Subiaco Colts Premiership Captain he shut out Swan Districts potential match winner and now West Coast Eagles forward Jarrod Cameron. Plane may also spend time on former Subiaco Colts teammate and North Beach junior, Scarborough’s Adam Vallelonga.

A crowd of 5000 is expected at Steel Blue Oval in Bassendean with the curtain-raiser also seeing North Beach play.  A battle of the Tigers sees North Beach vying for their 4th A-Reserves premiership in a row when they take on Curtin University Wesley. Curtin University Wesley will be trying to avenge it’s A-Grade fail this season after finishing minor premiers and going out in straight sets. The club would have been hoping to add a mens A-Grade premiership to its womens A-Grade premiership won three weeks ago.  Their one point loss in the 2nd Semi Final to North Beach and subsequent 10 point loss to Scarborough in the Preliminary Final provides great motivation for 2021.

In the Phil Scott Colts Grand Final, both Collegians and Curtin University Wesley will be attempting to win their first C.J. Veryard Cup. Both clubs beating each other through the season. Collegians Captain and 2020 Neil Donaldson Medallist for the best player in Phil Scott Colts, James Carrigg, will be the one to watch together with Curtin University Wesley’s Dylan Ralph and Nelson Aranda.

 

DETAILS:

Saturday 26 September 
Steel Blue Oval, Bassendean

Adults: $10
Under 16: Free 

No BYO alcohol is to be brought into or consumed within the venue, Security reserves the right to inspect any bag. 


10.25am: Phil Scott Colts: Collegians v Curtin Uni Wesley

12.35pm: AR: Curtin Uni Wesley v North Beach

2.45pm: A: North Beach v Scarborough

 

A Grade match live streamed on our Facebook Page and on ABC Radio.  Listen on 720AM Radio in Perth, Download the ABC Listen App or online at https://www.abc.net.au/radio/perth/live/

 

Purchase a GF Poster from Sporting Fine Art here: https://sportingfineart.com.au/collections/perth-football-league 

 

 

 

Enter your e-mail and subscribe to our newsletter.