At a recent PSSA event at the Blacktown International Sports Park, six Byron AFL players and Byron Junior AFL club president, Barry Spry, enjoyed an unprecedented, successful state carnival.
Marlin Corbett, Kesheva Raju, Finn Reece, Seth Carter, Diesel Drury and Kolbi Wood were all selected to represent the north coast at the U12 primary schools state championships with Barry Spry as team manager.
The north coast rarely get to play the Riverina as they are in different pools and, normally, different classes.
However, at the end of day two of the carnival, after three games and two wins, North Coast were assigned Riverina in their first final.
Ten thousand words and a quarter-cup of tears would be needed to tell the whole story of the gruelling match; needless to say, the final scoreboard showed Riverina up seven seven points at the final siren: 4.2.26 to 2.7.19 for the win. North Coast, the little bloke, battled and pushed and ran to the bitter end.
Two of the lads had a further positive outcome from the event – Marlin Corbett from Ballina was named Best & Fairest for the match and Diesel Drury from Byron Bay who was pictured this week made the state side.
In the spectators’ eyes, the boys won a superb moral victory, through time and space.