The grand final is shaping up to be the match of the year. On the previous two occasions the two teams have played this year, North Shore has won by two-points. North Shore chief executive Darren Simpson is expecting a big crowd to cheer North Shore on as they aim for its 11th flag in the club's history. ""In Sydney football terms it will be a big crowd. We are expecting a couple of thousand people to come along and watch the match. We have a full list to chose from heading into the grand final. The week off was beneficial in resting players with niggly injuries and freshening up the team,"" Simpson said.
The North Shore under-18's will also play off for the premiership this Sunday against Sydney Redbacks, in a repeat of last year's grand final. The match is the curtain raiser to the senior grand final and kicks off at 12pm. The North Shore under-18's have a consistent finals record - this is its 28th consecutive year in the finals.
The Sydney AFL Awards night was held earlier this week and Chris Bishop from North Shore was named the Sydney AFL Rising Star. Bishop, originally from Cottesloe in WA, moved to the Central Coast of NSW four years ago. He played with the Newcastle-Hunters side in the Sydney AFL U18 competition in 2000 and won the Kealey medal for the Best and Fairest player. North Shore invited him out to training last year and he quickly became an integral part of the Bombers team and was a member of their 2001 premiership side in his first year of senior football. In the club awards North Shore won the Sydney AFL McConnell Club Championship award with 176pts – 6points clear of the St George Crows.
