Marlins’ brotherhood built in three phases

BY ALEX TIGANI

After a winless 2021 in the Black Diamond Cup competition the Nelson Bay playing group bounced back to celebrate a memorable Black Diamond Plate grand final win by defeating Newcastle City 9.5 (59) to 5.8 (38).

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

For two years, Nic Griffith had an unenviable 0-1 coaching record at Nelson Bay.

The passionate mentor had to return to Perth days after his side’s season opening 28.20 (188) to 3.6 (24) defeat to Terrigal Avoca in 2020 due to family reasons.

In the months that followed, he was adamant that his coaching career was done and dusted after one match.

Therefore he could not help but smile when guiding the Marlins to a Black Diamond Plate grand final victory over Newcastle City two years later.

“We broke our season up into a couple of phases – the build phase, the win phase and the glory phase,” Griffith explained.

“If those three phases took three years then that is an acceptable plan but all of the sudden we compressed it and we said ‘let’s do it in one year’.”

Admittedly, Griffith had already tasted premiership success almost a decade before some of his current premiership teammates such as Lachlan Blyth and Mitch Walls were born.

Griffith featured in the famous Wesley College side which went undefeated in the Western Australian Alcock Cup in 1994.

Similarly, after two winless seasons, Griffth also featured for the Wesley College line-up which bounced back in 1994 to claim the Alcock Cup thanks to a 10-0 record. This picture features 2005 Brownlow medallist Ben Cousins and the late Ben Holioake.

The talented line-up was coached by former Perth and Geelong rover Bryan Cousins.

The squad received a pre-season talk from that year’s eventual AFL premiership coach Mick Malthouse (West Coast Eagles) while the late Percy Johnson (WAFL legend) also helped out as a ruck mentor.

Blair Taylor was the standout player of the series, Johnny Ferguson stood strong at full back, Drew Bartram transferred his skills from the hockey field while Bryan’s son Ben (still a Year 11 student) also featured in the side before his AFL career.

It marked the first time Wesley had won the series since Gary Spalding and his son Early (Melbourne and Carlton legend) celebrated the title 15 years earlier.

Griffith and his teammates commenced the season with a win over Aquinas, coached by 1976 and 1984 Sandover medallist Peter Spencer, less than 12 months after they suffered a 36.19 (235) to 0.1 (1) defeat to the powerhouse.

Then came the victories over Hale, Scotch and Trinity coached by former Geelong full back Gary Malarkey.

The school’s final triumph, a 16.22 (118) to 11.4 (70) away win against Guilford Grammar, sparked memorable celebrations and helped established a brotherhood within the school’s footy department which would help future students such as Phil Read (West Coast, Melbourne), Mark Coughlan (Richmond) and Lance Franklin (Hawthorn, Sydney) reach the top level over the following years.

“When we won that AFL premiership (in 2006), that was the one time I was going to let my hair down,” Ben Cousins reflected in his biography.

“Because the moment passed me by when I was playing for Wesley, I felt I was entitled to it now.

A teenage Griffth lifts his coach Bryan Cousins after the school’s 48-point victory against Guildford Grammar School.

“I did go overboard – but what nobody knew was, it was linked directly to that moment twelve years earlier on the cow paddock at Guilford Grammar.”

Thankfully, Griffith did not have to wait 12 years for his next premiership.

The ball winner also celebrated an under-20 grand final victory in the Perth Football League for the Curtin Wesley in 1997.

He then faced a much bigger task following that season decider.

“I put everything on hold for 25 years where I was running around the world fighting wars and living the army life,” he reflected.

“That was pretty much me until 2019.”

Even in his decorated army career, which included several tours of Afghanistan, he managed to play a few games for the Army team against the Air Force and the Navy

He then crossed paths with Marlins’ ruckman Billy Barton.

“A pivotal moment was meeting Billy Barton at the gym,” he recalled.

Returning ruckman Billy Barton pictured mid flight against Newcastle City’s Damian Magin.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

“I said, I hadn’t played footy for 25 years – I wouldn’t mind coming down for a run.

“I played two or three games for them that year, felt like I had been run over by a truck after each game but I got the froth back.”

After a 0-6 start, the Marlins finished eighth in 2019 with late wins over Wyong Lakes, Maitland and Gosford.

However the club needed to fill the senior men’s coaching position if they were to continue to build in 2020.

It was time for Barton to have another friendly chat with his mature age recruit.

“I never even thought about coaching,” Griffith reflected.

“Once I had a few beers I thought you know what, I’ll give that a crack.

“I called the president up and gave it a go.

“We started the pre-season in February and then that year covid took place and we didn’t get on the park until July.

“I was more about let’s just smash the basics so I did a lot of phone calls and once a bit of momentum sort of happened at training the numbers sort of flowed back.”

Unfortunately, the Marlins would face a massive defeat in the opening round despite Griffith’s extra efforts to keep the group communicating, training and maintaining the urge to return throughout the lockdown period.

Former Sydney Swan Craig Bird would help takeover the coaching duties from Round 2 in the absence of Griffith.

AFL premiership player Craig Bird returned to his junior club in recent years after a decorated 157 career for Sydney and Essendon.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

And the Marlins finished fifth on the ladder with an impressive 6-6 record (this would have secured a finals berth had the season not been shortened).

The following year was one to forget at Dick Burwell Oval.

Round 1 saw the Marlins suffer a 157-point defeat to Cardiff as future Hawks’ coach Danny Priest led the charge with five goals.

A fortnight later they suffered a 100-point loss to Singleton as the Roosters’ goal-kicking trio Andrew Scott, Alex Mitchell and Alex Tigani combined for 13 goals.

By Round 6, the line-up then suffered a 177-point defeat to Newcastle City held to a single Ryan Westley goal.

That afternoon Newcastle City captured a 48-1 scoring shot differential at Hawkins Oval.

Thankfully, the season was cancelled by August due to the second lockdown period.

As for a statistic for the trivia buffs, Marlins Aaron Crouch and Aidan Mulder shared the club’s goal-kicking honours with three each.

“I moved back to Perth for family reasons and we were there indefinitely and Birdy took over the coaching playing gig for 2020,” Griffith explained.

“We ended up coming back mid 2021 for a funeral then got stuck back here because of lockdown but then I had to go back to Perth to lock everything up.

“They got pumped every game which I think put us into good stead for 2022.

“They had the hunger cause they didn’t want that flogging again.”

Griffith was then approached by Crouch to see if he was interested in returning to coach the side which, by this stage, had been demoted to the Plate competition.

Though there is no plaque at the Salamander Tavern to record the significance of the meeting, Griffith obliged and described it as a no brainer in the end.

Nelson Bay coach Nic Griffith pictured on grand final day.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

“After the 2021 season we were told we were going down to plate and we would be down there for a minimum of three years,” he explained.

“I saw that as a massive opportunity to recruit again and a window where we can keep building – it was good framework for a rebuild.”

After a 0-9 record, Griffith’s mantra was that the side ‘does not lose games, they learn lessons’.

On April 8, after two years in coaching hiatus, Griffith was to face a Terrigal-Avoca line-up at Dick Burwell Oval featuring former Gosford star ruckman Adam Miller.

Though the inexperienced Marlins failed to score in the opening quarter, they held on to a climatic five point win.

After two years, Griffith’s record had lifted to 1-1.

“We tried to get a core group of club juniors like Billy (Barton), Wayd and Kael Blackburne for Round 1 but it was usually a ‘no’ or ‘I’ll think about it,” he revealed.

“But I knew once we had numbers at training that the F.O.M.O aspect was initially my trump card and fast forward to Terrigal Avoca and we had that epic win by five points, that did a heap of things.

“The first thing it did was build that belief in the group, we didn’t have our seniors or guns but it was us grinding out a win with our developing players.

“Billy came back, we then had 40 blokes at training on Tuesday night.”

The Marlins enjoyed wins over The Entrance Bateau Bay and Lake Macquarie but failed to match Newcastle City in Round 4.

Ruckman Billy Barton watches on as wingman Lachlan Blyth launches the ball to key forward Wayd Blackburne.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

A seven goal haul from Wayd Blackburne finally saw the Marlins capture a 10-point win over Newcastle City in Round 8.

He then snagged another ten goals in the following week’s 174-point win against Wallsend West Newcastle.

“The point that really dawned on us was our first win against City, that then was a moment where it was like – this is it,” Griffith added.

The Marlins finished third on the table as they welcomed back Craig Bird (overseas) and Kael Blackburne (injury).

Viewers from across the region tuned into Bar TV for the qualifying final as the Marlins, minus injured captain Matt Blyth and Nik Ellis-Brody, take on the second placed The Entrance Bateau Bay.

As for the result?

The Marlins had prevailed 19.19 (133) to 2.6 (16) to the surprise of all onlookers foreign to the Plate competition.

After an impressive finals series, Chase Morrissey played on with a leg injury throughout the final quarter of the grand final.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

Even with ten minutes remaining the side’s bench featured Wayd Blackburne with eight goals to his name, Craig Bird with five inside-50s and two goals and Jason Carey who had been the prominent ball winner of the previous season.

“It was the first time we had our full-strength team on the field and we were built on the Marlins brotherhood,” he joyfully recalled.

“We even heard Mitch Walls say something at three quarter time and the whole team let out this roar.

“It was the loudest group noise we had made all year and the opposition was just looking at us puzzled.”

Griffith’s men celebrated a modest 20-point semi-final win over Newcastle City the following week before the minor premier capitalised on the double chance with a win over The Entrance Bateau Bay at Tulkaba Park the following week.

Newcastle City big man Cameron Keast scored three goals in his side’s 55-point preliminary final win.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

That week Wayd Blackburne was recognised as the leading goal-kicker of the Plate competition with 62 goals from 11 games in the home and away season.

He was called onto the stage once more at the Belmont 16s as joint winner of the Granland medal with The Entrance Bateau Bay’s Scott Reed (17 votes each).

Billy Barton finished runner up by a single vote.

They were two of the six Marlins selected in the team of the year including Harrison Lack, Zane Grant, Kai Often and Adam Blyth.

The Nelson Bay Marlins pictured on Elliott-Davey Medal night in September.

Surprisingly, no selection for the captain Matt Blyth.

“I’ve known Matt for a few years cause we play cricket as well for Nelson Bay and he’s a quiet guy as well,” Griffith reflected.

“We asked, what did we need to change and in the lead up to the grand final it was all about consistency.

“The lead up to the grand final the training was the same, it was that ‘nothing changes’ mantra from Matt.

“He leads by example and he is only going to get more confident and comfortable now that he is a premiership captain.”

Nelson Bay captain Matt Blyth has continued to improve each season.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

As victorious Warners Bay supporters cleared Bateau Bay Oval following the Shield grand final, the stage was set for another blockbuster.

It was time for the grand final.

Newcastle City won the footy in the first term, holding a 12-7 lead in the inside 50 count and dominating the ruck contests on each part of the field.

Yet the Marlins did not deprive their supporters of highlights either.

Wayd Blackburne scored two goals on one end while Harrison Lack set the tone with a memorable smother of Cameron Keast on the other end.

Craig Bird proved to be the star of the opening term with 11 disposals, two inside 50s and a crucial goal at the nine-minute mark.

However the Marlins would need to do a lot more when holding a narrow 3.3 (21) to 3.2 (20) lead.

Craig Bird was the star of the opening quarter with one goal and 11 disposals.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

Bird did not stop there with a memorable mark in the opening minute to commence what proved to be a low scoring second term.

After a controversial behind the play incident, Billy Barton returned to the field and prompted a roar from the crowd when chasing down his opponent at the nine-minute mark.

Jason Carey followed suite a few minutes later while a David Wood goal and Aaron Crouch behind saw the Marlins hold a brief seven-point lead.

After a quiet opening term, Kael Blackburne finished with six disposals in the second term while Harrison Lack also recorded four of his nine marks.

Interestingly, a late goal to Jarred Matson then cut the Marlins’ lead back to a point at the main break.

Key defender Adam Blyth suffered a shoulder injury on the verge of half time.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

A shoulder injury to Adam Blyth meant his younger brothers Matt and Lachlan would have to bring his premiership medal home.

And while the Marlins’ inaccuracy was evident with a 5.12 (42) scoreline toward the final break, they would stand strong to capture the premiership.

Wayd Blackburne scored four goals in the second half to finish with six for the game and 81 for the season.

Could he add a best on ground medal to his league and club goal-kicking and best and fairest honours in 2022?

“You would have thought so, I guess everyone was so used to him kicking goals that he didn’t stand out,” Griffith explained.

“But he was a dream to have in the forward line and when he isn’t kicking goals he’s setting up goals and directing traffic.

Returning brothers Kael and Wayd Blackburne pictured on grand final day together.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

“He is just a silky player to watch and he also took up an extra defender so that opened up our other forwards to get a bit of freedom.”

His brother Kael also finished the grand final with 15 disposals and five inside 50s.

“That was his best game for the year that grand final,” Griffith continued.

“He also got injured in Round 6 and was out for 10 weeks but he returned the week before the final to add to his story.”

Youngster Kai Often finished with 19 disposals including eight in the final term.

His height was key while playing a kick behind the ball defensively.

Kai Often displayed on of the most impressive final quarters in recent history.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

Then there was Craig Bird who finished with 26 disposals (20 kicks), four marks and seven inside 50s.

“The first thing with Birdy was getting him qualified for finals, he got back and he was a bit unfit.

“He said ‘I was good to go for finals’ and asked if he could play on the ball.

“I said, ‘if you have your legs on you can play wherever you want’.

“Before the game I asked him to say a few words and reflect on the 2012 grand final and what John Longmire said to the Sydney Swans before they ran out.

Craig Bird was the star of the opening quarter with one goal and 11 disposals.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

“He was pretty quietly spoken but he said ‘go out there enjoy the day, remember what you did to get her and don’t lose focus on what you need to do’.”

Despite all of these worthy contenders for the individual accolade, the best on ground medal would go to defender Harrison Lack.

He finished with 21 disposals (eight in the final term), nine marks and four inside 50s.

“He had free licence to do what he needed to do,” Griffith explained.

“He was our launching pad off of half back and that smother in the first half put everyone on the next level.

“Then there was his overhead marking, when they looked up they either saw Kai Often or Harrison Lack.

“It was very Tom Stewart like.”

Defender Harrison Lack was the recipient of the grand final’s best on ground medal. He also finished third in the club’s best and fairest.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

When reflecting on the Marlins’ brotherhood Griffith also reflected on the efforts from those on his entire list – not just the 22 selected on grand final day.

Ryan Westley, who had not missed a game that season, suffered a hand injury at training on the Thursday beforehand.

Adam Benjamin, affectionately known to all as Kenny, was also denied an injury free 2022 on his road back into the side.

And as David Wood scored his two crucial goals, his proud teammate Hayden Spark cheered on with gusto from the sidelines.

Both Wood and Spark had crossed over from Wallsend West Newcastle earlier in the season.

Spark conceded he could not risk playing with his hamstring injury on grand final day.

It was considered the most selfless act of the Marlins’ journey to the dais.

Ultimately, Griffith had become a grand final winning coach – adding to his previous two premierships medals after a 25-year wait.

“It was almost a dream come true, a realisation that we scaled a pretty big mountain and achieved the ultimate glory,” he said.

“To see the joy on the boys’ faces, in that last quarter when we sort of had it wrapped up with five minutes to go….the look we gave each other without saying anything, you can’t recapture that.”

The Marlins stormed home to victory with five goals to one in the second half.

(Photo: Merrillie Redden)

After a handshake with opposing coach Marty Reiman, Griffith ran onto the field to embrace his teammate and good mate Aaron Crouch.

The goal-kicker embraced his coach.

“Box ticked, job done,” Crouch replied.