AFL Sydney: North Shore out to erase demons of past, Manly returns for first GF in a decade

North Shore is looking to complete a perfect season after going down in the last two grand finals, while Manly is gearing up for its first GF in a decade in what shapes as a cracking AFL Sydney decider.

Sean Teuma

@seanteuma

2 min read

September 19, 2024 - 9:15AM

News Sport Network

Ned Campbell and Taine Wright with the AFL Sydney Premier Men's trophy ahead of Saturday's grand final. Picture: Ikko Ehode Arimoto

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North Shore has fallen at the final hurdle of the AFL Sydney Premier Men’s division over the past two years, but they won’t let it derail them as they look to break that run this weekend.

The Bombers come into Saturday’s clash with Manly as the undefeated minor premiers who are one game away from completing the perfect season.

Captain Ned Campbell believes despite their impeccable run throughout 2024 there is no pressure on North Shore this weekend.

“It’s well noted we’ve lost the last two. I think we’re a really stable club and we enjoy spending time with each other,” he said.

“To cap it off with a win would be really exciting and a lot of fun.

“It’s a new year and at the end of the day it’s local footy. We love playing footy, win or lose.

“To have another opportunity is really exciting. Honestly we want to win, but we don’t need it. We’re just looking forward to going out there and having a crack.”

Campbell made it back-to-back Phelan Medals after being named as the division’s best and fairest earlier this week.

It continued his incredible run of form in the AFL Sydney competition, and the midfielder paid tribute to the role of his teammates in helping him to those heights.

“It was certainly exciting and unexpected. I’m really honoured to get it for the second year,” he said.

“This year was stepping out of myself and worrying too much about my own game and being the captain of the club.

“Helping other teammates and players, that went a long way to playing really relaxed, comfortably and finding some form.”

Ashleigh Carter and Taine Wright of the Manly Wolves who will feature both Premier division teams in this weekend's grand finals. Picture: Ikko Ehode Arimoto

It’s been a decade since Manly has found itself in the decider, with the Wolves winning back-to-back titles in 2013 and 2014.

Taine Wright has come through the ranks at the club and would love nothing more than to help end that drought.

“It’s my first one with the senior club and we haven’t been there for a few years,” he said.

“With the women’s team in there as well it’s massive for the club to have two Prem’s sides in the grand finals.

“Being quite young and training with the side, the culture at the club and the old boys how they bring you in, I just didn’t want to play anywhere else.”

Wright knows the task at hand is the toughest in the game in trying to knock off the Bombers, but said his side will have to attack the game to try and do just that.

“We just need to play our way, go hard at it and give them all we’ve got,” he said.

“We’ve got a bunch of good users if we can win those in and unders and spread it out to them.”

Originally published as AFL Sydney: North Shore out to erase demons of past, Manly returns for first GF in a decade