Moment that made Magpies premiers
Photo: Brad Greenshields
IN the end a 100 minute slog between two desperate teams was decided by a single moment.
Trailing by three points half way through the final term, Port Macquarie had forced a stoppage only 20 metres out from their goal.
From the resultant ball up the Breakers looked like they were about to win a vital defensive clearance and repel another Magpie attack. That was until Kayle Enfield produced a great smother to keep the ball locked in. Port’s co-coach Kye Taylor pounced on the loose ball and snapped a rolling, tumbling kick toward goal that managed to not only just cross the goal line but avoid the left hand goal post by a matter of inches to put the Magpies in front.
It was a result that early in the third term looked unlikely.
When Beau Guthrie snapped around the corner from a free kick set shot only a minute after half time, the Coffs Breakers led by 17 points and it was hard to see the Magpies finding a way to come back from there considering the extremely wet conditions thanks to a torrential downpour the night before the match and further rain throughout the match.
But the Magpies dug deep. Goals through Zac Lynch and then a superb set shot from Tom Dickson from 40 metres out on a 45 degree angle brought Port to within three points at the final change.
Then came that one moment that will go down in Port Macquarie folklore. A moment that brought the Magpies their first Senior Men’s premiership since 2013.
It’s hard to tell but the three players behind a wall of water during the 2022 AFL North Coast Grand Final are Malcolm Trotter (Coffs Breakers) and Port Macquarie’s Will Kelly and Darren Boulet. Photo: Brad Greenshields
MATCH DETAILS
PORT MACQUARIE 0.2 1.4 3.6 4.7 (31)
COFFS BREAKERS 2.1 3.3 4.3 4.4 (28)
Goals – Port: Des Morgan, Zac Lynch, Tom Dickson, Kye Taylor. Breakers: Aidan Wallace, Matt Giri, Oscar McKenzie, Beau Guthrie.
Woodlock Medal (Best on Ground): James Read – Port Macquarie.
MATCH REPLAY
Click here to watch a full replay of the match on YouTube via Kyle Hands Media
Port Macquarie’s James Read was named as the Woodlock Medallist for being adjudged as the best player on the ground in the 2022 Senior Men’s Grand Final against the Coffs Breakers. Photo: Brad Greenshields
The Port Macquarie bench celebrates as the final siren sounds in the Men’s Grand Final. Photo: Brad Greenshields
Royce Close of the Coffs Breakers tries to be first to the ball in the wet conditions the 2022 Men’s Grand Final was played in against Port Macquarie. Photo: Brad Greenshields
Photo: Brad Greenshields
