North Melbourne vs. Gold Coast, 2002 GRAND FINAL

[MrCharisma]

By Chris W.B

Two sides, both having come through a determined Manly side to be here, met in front of a big Melbourne crowd. Gold Coast, going in as underdogs, were looking to emulate last year's upset win- whilst North Melbourne looked to gain a victory to kindle some passion in an AFL dominated city.

Both sides were as per programme, as the boot of Andrew Johns got things underway, and North Melbourne would get the first hit out of the ASRL 2002 Grand Final. A quality set showed how fired up North Melbourne were, before Richard Peleasina dropped the ball in a heavy Cayless tackle.

The Crusade put together a sloppy first set, before conceding a penalty which put North Melbourne on the attack once more. Some slick work from Scott Hill created a three on one overlap, but Rhys Wesser dropped the ball cold, blowing a certain try against an isolated Tommy O'Reilly.

The Crusade struggled in their next few sets, young and old alike struggling to make metres against a tough North Melbourne defence. It didn't take long for North Melbourne to capitalise, Anthony Stuart snatching the opening try care of a John Eeles knock on only metres out. Andrew Walker converted, and the Maulers had a 6-0 lead after five minutes.

Things went from bad to worse, the Maulers making seventy metres off the return set, before Andrew Walker showed up Tommy O'Reilly to score a try out wide. The conversion was missed, but North Melbourne lead 10-0 after only six minutes of play. Andrew Johns sought to lift his troops, with his short kick-off forcing a Luke Phillips knock-on. It just wasn't their night however, Chris Latham penalised for a deliberate forward pass that put Jason Croker in under the posts.

The Maulers almost made them pay, a two on one overlap seeing Wesser skip down the sideline, with only a perfect Radlinski tackle preventing another embarassing try. The efforts of the British fullback failed to lift Gold Coast, as they put together another horrible set, finished with a Nathan Cayless grubber which was too strong and rolled into touch.

The Crusade were under pressure, and their own ill-discipline maintained North Melbourne's stranglehold on the game. Five consecutive penalties had referee Bill Harrigan threaten send-offs, but Gold Coast were punished fittingly, Scott Hill forcing his way over, carrying Andrew Johns and Nathan Cayless over from ten out to set up a 16-0 lead in the 16th minute.

The try must've sparked something, Gold Coast finally showing some steal in the next set, repelling a promising North Melbourne set. Irish youngster Tommy O'Reilly then lifted the side further, a twenty metre kick return followed by a chip setting up Chris Latham to score Gold Coast's opening try. Eeles missed the crucial conversion, but at 16-4 things looked slightly better for the Crusade.

The next ten minutes were what should be expected of Grand Finals, tough defense and enterprising attack. After a poor kick and chase from North Melbourne, Gold Coast sought to ruck it out, only to have Chris McKenna knock on from dummy-half. The Crusade failed to get back in time, Matthew Gidley dummying once before powering over to make it 22-4 in the 23rd.

In the 26th things looked worse for Gold Coast, Richard Peleasina seeming to have scored from dummy-half. Mercifully, the try was disallowed for a knock-on in dummy half, but there was no stopping Tasea Lavea in the 29th. The plucky young Kiwi danced through some sloppy defence to score his side's fifth try, and the conversion made it 28-4.

Gold Coast rallied a little, forcing back to back sets and exerting some pressure on North Melbourne's line- but looked nothing like the side that had dominated all season. Their defence was stronger, but too quick, Waisale Sovatabua sent off in the 35th for creeping offside. Chris Walker-Bush was furious, his side down by 24 and now playing a man short.

It was Andrew Johns who lifted his side, throwing Tasesa Lavea into touch and orchestrating a quality set in which he sought to put his side back into the game. A cut-out pass found a flying Tommy O'Reilly, but a jarring Phillips' tackle forced the Irishman to cough up possession. The half finished with North Melbourne in possession, the Crusade trudging off the field and looking down the barrel of the biggest Grand Final loss in the past thirty years.

HALFTIME: North Melbourne 28 lead Gold Coast 4

Gold Coast and North Melbourne returned to the field, the crowd of Melbournites roaring their team on and hoping for another dominant second half. It looked like more of the same when Luke Phillips bust the line without effort, but his opposite once again saved Gold Coast- knocking the ball lose and gaining possession for his side. He combined with O'Reilly again, the young Irishman making plenty of metres and putting Gold Coast on the attack. Pelea'easina, playing with plenty of passion, couldn't be denied as he rampaged over to bring the Crusade within 18.

The game calmed down, Gold Coast lifting from the first half and North Melbourne showing signs of complacency. The halftime report claimed that coach John Williams had asked for more of the same, but the Maulers seemed to be content just to wind the clock down and take their premiership rings home.

Gold Coast though, were following Chris Walker-Bush's instructions to the word, lifting their intensity as they sought to resurrect their season. A 'bit of biffo' between Andrew Johns and Matthew Gidley gave Gold Coast a penalty, and Kiwi champion Nathan Cayless strolled over the top of Rhys Wesser to make it a twelve point ball game at 28-16. With half an hour remaining, it was game on.

Where North Melbourne had dominated in the first half, it was Gold Coast who controlled the game in the second half, completely dominating a ten minute period but unable to reap the rewards. An intercept from Rhys Wesser appeared to have given North Melbourne an unassailable lead, but Harrigan called it back for offside, and the Crusade fans breathed a sigh of relief.

That sigh turned to a roar minutes later, veteran John Eeles kicking ahead and cheering as Luke Phillips dropped the ball cold. Without hesitation Eeles' toed it ahead, diving on the ball to score a magnificent individual try. 28-22, the Maulers were shell-shocked and the Crusade were riding emotion.

A 50/50 penalty moments later threatened to crush Gold Coast's spirit, Harrigan penalising Perry for a minor infringement and giving Walker a shot at goal. The penalty was successful, and with fourteen minutes left, the Maulers were up 30-22. The Crusade needed to score twice, and already they seemed exhausted by their comeback.

The 71st minute brought the entire league world to a stand-still, Kris Radlinski plucking a Johns' bomb from the air to make it 30-26. Johns nailed the sideline conversion to put his side within two, and with eight minutes to go it was 30-28. Down and out at half-time, the Crusade sought to bring back the biggest half time deficit in history.

In the 73rd, Walker prevented any draws, a field goal from twenty out making it 31-28 and giving Gold Coast the target of a try or a disappointing ride home. Johns' boot, finding a forty twenty, gave Gold Coast the chance they needed- with the Maulers exhausted. Three tackles had the Maulers ragged, when a long Latham pass found Sovatabua. The winger raced to the line, only to drop it over the whitewash, the pressure and passion exhausting the veteran. Four minutes remaining, the Crusade's head dropped for the first time since half-time.

With a minute to go, Latham made an eighty metre kick-return, and looked for all money to score the winning try when Luke Phillips appeared from nowhere to tackle the former QLD Red. The Crusade maintained pressure, a perfect Johns grubber to finish the set. Wesser, showing marvellous skill, danced out of the in-goal however, and North Melbourne had possession with only twenty second to go. A one on one rake from Carney gave the Crusade a glimmer of hope, but defending for their lives, the Maulers repelled the attack. The siren went, and Andrew Johns attempted a chip and chase. The ball rolled into touch however, leaving Gold Coast to wonder what could've been had they aimed up in the first half.

Scenes of jubilation in the streets, as Gold Coast marched despondent to the dressing room, rueing missing opportunities and blown chances. The Maulers however, breathed the loudest sigh of relief ever heard, having wethered what can only be described as the greatest comeback in ASRL history.

It was a shame only one side could win, because the two halves were so dominant that any other side would've been blown off of the park.

North Melbourne: 31
Andrew Walker
Anthony Stuart
Scott Hill
Tasesa Lavea
Matthew Gidley
Walker 5/6
Walker 1 fg.
def.
Gold Coast: 28
Kris Radlinski
Chris Latham
John Eeles
Iafeta Pelea'easina
Nathan Cayless
Eeles 4/5

PoM Points:
Andrew Walker 3 (Best and Fairest)
Andrew Johns 2
Kris Radlinski 1

Marty Raynor, ASRL Weekly Magazine

[MrCharisma]

By Cometshark - North Melbourne Coach

Well I'd just like to thank the boys for putting in all year.
Ahhh the crusade for giving me heart palpitations in the second half, Ahh you guys were just on fire all year being the side to beat...... and as with all champion sides they have off days, well we werent able to get that out of you guys all we got was one bad half, which is a real credit to you guys coming back after the first half....... so I'd like to take my hat off to you guys, thanks for the great game.
I'd also like to thank the fans, the club, our families for the support all year and also my support staff who just got the boys primed all year.
Well the boys finished fifth last year and learnt alot from that outing, this year we had a bit of an ordinary start to the season but came home very strong only relinquishing the minor premiership in the last two weeks of the season.
Again I'd just like to thank the boys for giving me a dream maiden season ending with a premiership ring, and Also I'd like to thank Chris for a game I'll never forget.
Now I think I might go and have a beer.

[MrCharisma]

By Chris W.B- Gold Coast Coach

Heartbreaking
That is the only word that can describe how I'm feeling right now. At halftime I thought we were gone, I didn't think we stood a chance. I just told the boys to lift our game and save some face, attempt to make it look respectable.

What they did was turn our worst first half in history to one of our best second halves. Whilst some people could say we lost it by conceding the penalty, or Eeles missing the conversion, or Sovatabua dropping it over the line- truth is, we didn't deserve to win after our first half. Whilst the second half was one of our best, we made it impossible four ourselves by conceding five tries in the first half.

For us, it's now time to rebuild and try and put it behind us. I don't know what's worse, being thrashed or losing at the death after such a comeback. We'll be there again next year, I'm positive, and if we can play every game like we did in that second half- we'll never lose.

To John Williams, congratulations on turning the Maulers into a premiership winning side. They had what it takes on paper, but they needed someone to guide them, and you did it. Whilst Steve Simmons took out rookie coach of the year, I think John deserves special mention, as the Maulers are really a success story.