A QUICK glance over the Wauchope Blues first grade team sheet for Sunday's Group 3 grand final will make for proud reading if you're from west of the donut.
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No fewer than eight of the Blues 17-man squad are club juniors who have progressed through the ranks to take their place in the club's first season decider in five years.
Sam Ylias, Tristan Scott, Josh Caruana, Mat Bird, Bryce Roche, Kurt Doherty and Brayden Stubbs are all true Blues.
They all have played their role to get the club a ticket to the big dance.
Coach Anthony Boyd said Scott would have arguably the biggest role to play as the halfback who will handle the duties of leading the side around the park.
"I was keen to play Tristan in the halves last year, but I don't think he was really ready to manage a football side which is something he's had to learn," Boyd said.
"This year he's got that opportunity, stood up in the pre-season and has been one of our best performers all year.
"He's earned that spot on the back of hard work."
After accepting a job in the mines in Western Australia, Ylias won't train at all during the week and will almost head straight from the airport to the ground on Sunday.
Club president Ged Roods said it was pleasing to see such a high number of juniors who still had "pride in the jersey."
"It shows there is that town spirit and pride in the jersey to have eight juniors come through," he said.
"Growing up, the pinnacle was always to play first grade for Wauchope and I'm sure speaking on behalf of the other fellas that's the same attitude they have."
In a current environment where any club looks to gain an advantage wherever possible, Roods said it was a credit to the town that so many players had stayed at Wauchope.
"They're not hanger-on-erers that we've just chucked into the side because we didn't have the players for those positions," he said.
"They're blokes that have been tried and tested in Group 3 for the past number of years."