Finally the monkey is off our back. North Shore’s 17-year Mens Seniors premiership drought is over.
We hadn’t won one since 2007. And not for a lack of effort. We’d got so close so many times.
In those 17 years, we only missed the finals three times, the last in 2015. In 2016 we made the Prelim Final and lost by 90 points. Then for four years in a row we finished our season with back to back finals losses, all by less than 20 points. The 2021 season was abandoned in lockdown when we were undefeated with a percentage over 300.
In 2022 we made it through to the Grand Final, but didn’t get a goal till the last quarter. Then last year we let a half-time lead slip.
But 2024 always felt different.
Coaches Ryan Meldrum and Danny Roberts were at the helm this year. Both life members at North Shore with long records of service to the club. Molly had coached before, this was Danny’s first year with the clipboard. Every week their preparation was meticulous, the game plan was right and they knew how to get the best out of everyone. Everyone wanted to improve, everyone was inspired.
And week after week the results kept coming. Undefeated through the regular season, only really threatened once. Got past Pennant Hills in the Major Semi-Final in style.
Grand Final day dawned, and the sun was shining brightly at Blacktown International Sportspark. Our opponents were Manly, and there’s always plenty of feeling in a local derby against the Wolves. We’d beaten them comfortably enough twice during the regular season. But a Grand Final is a whole new ball game.
Undefeated for the first time in a completed home and away season, the first time anyone had done it since our run in the covid-shortened 2020 season. The first time anyone had done it in a full-length season since East Coast in 2006. But neither had won the premiership, and the sceptics, knowing we’d dropped finals we shouldn’t have, were waiting for us to choke.
In glorious sunshine at Blacktown, there was a good crowd in. The North Shore faithful took their seats in the grandstand, with the Manly crowd on the hill. We’d won the Under 19s Grand Final earlier in the day, while Manly had just played and lost the Womens Grand Final. Now it’s show time, this is the big one.
We win the toss and we’re kicking to the Eastern Road end in the first quarter. And barely a minute has gone and we’re on the scoreboard. Big Fraser Thurlow marks and goals. He played for Essendon years ago, played plenty of footy on the Gold Coast. It’s his first year at North Shore, and he hasn’t known our heartbreak of the past. A few minutes later he gets a set shot on a tight angle; going the checkside for his second.
The Bombers are on fire, playing as men inspired. Wayd Blackburne snaps truly for our third. Ethan Grace goes long with the torp and adds another. And Tom Meacham, who’s come up from our juniors, gets a free kick within range.
Quarter time. We have five goals, Manly have two behinds. You can see the body language. We’re not going to let them in.
It was all Manly could do to desperately try to hold us out. Neither team scored in the first ten minutes of the second term; but the Wolves weren’t going to make up any ground unless they took a few risks. But all their defensive work was undone when Matt Buskariol copped a coat-hanger within scoring range, and still managed to hold the mark. Buska, another one who’d been with us all the way from the juniors, scored both our goals in the second term. Even with Manly getting their first late in the quarter, we were 37 points to the good at the long break.
The third quarter never reached any great heights, just one goal apiece, and we led by 39 points at the last change. But as the sun was setting and the shadows grew longer, the sense of anticipation was growing. We were happy to play out time.
Manly actually won the last quarter, but it mattered not. The premiership was safely in our keeping; with Jake Veale and young gun Angus Loebel scoring to put the icing on the cake.
The North Shore crowd in the grandstand were lapping it up, the Reserves had emerged from the rooms where they were preparing for their Grand Final. And the North Shore diaspora around the globe, watching on the Streamer or following the updates on Team App and Twitter, were revelling in the moment. The premiership was in our keeping.
The siren sounded, the drought was over. There were 18 Bombers on the field when the siren sounded. Within a few seconds there were hundreds. Players from other grades, club volunteers, family and friends, past players – they’re all part of it. They’d waited 17 years for this moment. Embracing, high-fiving, celebrating the moment.
An undefeated season, dominating the league. And finally, at long last, the Mens Seniors premiership cup was destined to return to Gore Hill.
And so the players, coaches and everyone from North Shore took their places in front of the stage. Fraser Thurlow was presented the Podbury Medal as best-on-ground. The players received their medals. And then the moment we’d waited for; as captain Ned Campbell, along with Molly and Danny held up the cup. The team celebrating on the stage.
Back in the rooms, the song is sung with gusto. The rooms are packed with the North Shore faithful, the celebratory beers are flowing. But they can’t stay in the rooms too long. The day isn’t over yet. By now the Reserves Grand Final is on, they’re in a tight contest and need support. Our third premiership of the day is on its way home.
Finally the drought is over. But we’re not resting on our laurels. You can’t improve on being undefeated; but next year the slate is wiped clean and our Bombers will have to work hard all over again. Pre-season training isn’t far away.
But for now, we celebrate those remarkable achievements of 2024. When our Mens Premier Division Bombers flew up, and so many from our massive and growing footy club flew up with them.
| North Shore | 5.0.30 | 7.4.46 | 8.7.55 | 10.9.69 |
| Manly | 0.2.2 | 1.3.9 | 2.4.16 | 5.6.36 |
Goals – F Thurlow 3, M Buskariol 2, W Blackburne, E Grace, A Loebel, T Meacham, J Veale.
Best – F Thurlow, J Tidemann, E Grace, C Loone, S Barkley, F Chalmers.
At Blacktown International Sportspark, Saturday 21st September 2024.
