It's the biggest game in Weldon's history. The Wolves host North Shore at Weldon Oval the first Premier Division clash between the two sides.
Proudly Sponsored by Bendigo Bank.
In 1969, a small group of dedicated followers of ‘Aussie Rules’ got together and decided they wanted to give the young men of the Northern beaches an option of playing football locally. There was some junior football clubs, but the nearest senior football club was NorthShore, who had formed in 1903. That small group created the Manly Warringah Australian Rules Football Club, now known as the Wolves. They collected that symbol not because it belonged to any AFL club, but because wolves hunt in packs, are proud, strong independent and care for their injured. Put simply, in the wild competitive world in which they exist … wolves win.
In the fullness of time the Wolves grew and competed in the secondary level competition in Sydney. This competition was the SFA and Northshore continued on playing the in the SFL. For that entire period, the Northshore Senior team did not compete against the Wolves Senior team for points.
In 2009, the completion was divisionalised with the strongest teams from the old SFA now competing in Division 1 against the Premier Division reserve grade teams. Again the Wolves started to dominate and won the Division 1 premierships in 2011 and 2012. The case for promotion was compelling and the Wolves entered the Premier Division in 2013. They followed Northshore into the competition 110 years after it was formed and 44 years after the Wolves were formed. Finally, the two clubs that had drawn on the same junior playing group and had a number of players that had moved back and forth could compete.
Northshore’s senior team last won a Premiership in 2007, the same year the Wolves won the SFA. However since that time the Wolves Senior team have won two further flags. It was not in the contemplation of the Sydney AFL that when creating the draw for 2013 that the newly promoted Manly would be competing for the finals. The Sydney AFL was wrong, Manly have been on top of the Ladder for all but 2 weeks of the season. Sitting just behind them on percentage is Northshore. This will be a classic clash, that has been 44 years in the waiting.
In WA they have the Derby, in Adelaide the Showdown. It is not clear what the clash will be called, but there are two clubs and there supported that have been waiting a long time for this to happen. To add spice the Bendigo bank has provided a trophy and a prize of cash for the Best on Ground. This shapes as the match of the season, it will be match of the day in the Sydney competition.
See you at the footy and lets cheer on our pack.
Matchday details
Old Boys game - 10:30am
Under 18's - 12pm
Bendigo Bank Cup - 2:10pm
Last Modified on 16/08/2013 17:02