PORT Macquarie Magpies have another shot at achieving what no other team has managed in the AFL North Coast grand final tomorrow.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
To win the league, the Magpies must knock off the undefeated Sawtell Toormina Saints at C.ex Coffs International Stadium.
It would be a monumental achievement for the Pies, who have come good after a slow start to the season.
But they are confident they can come back on Saturday afternoon with winning medals around their necks.
The Magpies will have the full complement of players for the first time in 2015, and they are pumped, according to coach Damon Munt.
He expects a close game, and you won't find him making excuses if his team is on the wrong end of the ledger.
"We've got the team to win," he said.
"If we don't, then we're just not good enough."
Munt and co will look to spread the ball wide tomorrow, and use both wings well.
"Rather than taking the ball down the same corridors all the time," Munt said.
The Saints have a couple of quality players in the middle, but Munt said if his team shut them down, it would go a long way towards his side winning the match.
The Magpies' under 18s team aims for a unique hat-trick tomorrow.
The younger Magpies and win a third consecutive grand final.
Tomorrow's decider will mark a fifth straight grand final appearance. The Magpies lost in 2011 and 2012.
Coach Craig Carroll still remembers the scoreline in 2012: 66-62 to North Coffs.
The Pies lost with the last kick of the game.
It still provides incentive for Carroll and the troops to do well.
They have gone through the past two seasons undefeated.
It was the plan this season, too, but the Pies lost to tomorrow’s opponents.
A win tomorrow would be sweet revenge and special twins James and Blake Nelson.
Both were champing at the bit for the bounce.
“I’m keen as,” James said.
“We’re probably ready to play now,” Blake said.
Blake will be busy. He’ll also play first grade tomorrow.
A lot of clubs claim to be family oriented, but that is certainly true with the Magpies. The Nelsons’ dad Wayne was assistant coach last season before moving into a grounds manager role.
Mum Sue is the Magpies’ treasurer.
Munt had nothing but respect for the Nelsons.
“They’re tremendous young guys,” he said.
Tomorrow’s reserve grade decider pits Macleay Valley up against Sawtell Toormina Saints.
The Eagles beat the Magpies last weekend, and the result stood later in the week, even though it came to light the opposition played a couple of ineligible players.
