Cable Beach Greenbacks secure 10th premiership with nail-biting seven-point win over Derby Tigers

The Cable Beach Greenbacks have secured their 10th West Kimberley Football League Premiership since the league’s launch in 1991 with a down-to-the-wire win over the Derby Tigers.

Playing under the Saturday afternoon heat at Haynes Oval, Beach came out firing with captain Sonny Dann putting six points on the board within the first two minutes.

The rest in the prelim round looked to have worked wonders for Beach, who continued to pile on the pressure with another goal and behind before Derby were able to get the ball in their forward 50.

Edward Mcginty — who scored four goals for Derby in the final quarter of their prelim against Looma — was able to finally get his team on the board with an impressive quick snap goal from around 40 metres out, but celebrations were short lived, with Beach getting a quick set shot from 30m after a holding call against Derby.

The neck and neck play continued for the rest of the first period, with both teams slotting home a goal-a-piece to see Beach end two goals ahead, Beach 4.2-26 to Derby 2.2-14.

Things continued Cable Beach’s way in the second quarter, with two quick goals seeing the lead blowout to 22-points before the Tigers were lucky to get a 50m penalty, handing an easy set shot from the top of the goal square to bring the gap back to 16-points.

Intent on not going into the half-time break with a double digit deficit, Derby kept pushing through the Cable Beach midfield, but accuracy in-front of goal was the issue, with a set shot from 30m on the siren going wayward for a point.

At half-time, Cable Beach were sitting pretty with an 18-point lead, Beach 6.4-40 to Derby 3.4-22.

The narrative looked to be going Cable Beach’s way again in the third quarter, with an early goal seeing the lead extended to 24-points.

Despite the worrying scoreline, Derby continued to pile on the pressure, managing three goals and a behind to ensure the half-time lead was only extended by a single point heading into the final period, Beach 9.6-60 to Derby 6.5-41.

Facing the prospects of a second grand-final loss in as many years, the Tigers came out firing in the final quarter.

An early goal for the Tigers brought the premiership back within arms reach, with Beach struggling to get the ball into their forward 50 in the first half of the final period.

With just minutes left in the game, a goal and three behinds to Beach looked to have sealed the victory with much of the crowd off their feet and beginning to celebrate.

But some quick play in the Tigers midfield saw two goals scored within a minute, bringing the game back to within seven points with just a minute to go — emboldening the Tigers players who continued to fight until the final siren.

Despite the late rush back, Derby were unable to seal another goal to take the lead, seeing Beach secure the West Kimberley Premiership for a 10th time — and a third in three years —by just seven points.

From a spectator’s perspective, it couldn’t have been a more interesting final quarter, and one far exceeds last year’s grand final where the Tigers were downed by almost 50 points.

Cable Beach’s Daniel Cox was awarded the Father McMahon medal for best on ground, with his speed in the middle of the park the difference maker for Beach.

The undefeated season mirrors Beach’s 2007 performance — the year Joseph Dann, who just won his ninth premiership, won his first.

The Dann brothers now have 16 premierships between them - Vernon (3), Joseph (9), Leon (3) and Ashley (1).