West Whyalla has earned the right to challenge Roopena in next week's grand final, after defeating North Whyalla by seven points in a thrilling, but not very pretty game on Saturday.
Played in atrocious conditions, the weather was not good for anything, let alone football.
A strong gale force wind was blowing down the ground towards the Viscount Slim Avenue end, favouring the left hand pocket slightly, which meant that almost all the play would be at that end of the ground or on the outer side of the ground.
North started the game kicking with it, after winning the toss and were immediately into attack, with a goal to Russell Tucker kicked from a long way out and using the wind to perfection.
The Magpies continued to attack and had plenty of chances, but the Dragon defence was holding firm until co-captain Chad Menzies goaled, the result of a silly piece of play from Westies' ruck man Ben English, which cost them dearly.
Full forward Nick Prokopec then soccered a good goal and suddenly the Maggies were getting on top.
When Sam Flanegan goaled, they had opened up a handy break, with the first quarter scores being 5.5 to 0.0.
The wind was having such an effect on the game that the ball had hardly gone into the Dragons forward line, with almost all the play being bottled up on the dead, outer side flank.
The second quarter began in similar fashion to the first until the seven minute mark, when Brannan Everett kicked a long ball into the forward line, resulting in a goal.
From the bounce he took the ball, ran just outside the square and kicked their second in less than a minute and suddenly the Dragons were back in the game.
Brad Henderson goaled a few minutes later to reduce the deficit even further.
This stung the Magpies into running the ball into the wind and certainly had their chances to score, but messed them all up, with the half time lead to the Magpies being 13 points, the scores 5.5 to 3.4.
Those into football know that the third quarter is the premiership quarter and this definitely was the case in this game, with the Dragons kicking two goals into the strong wind, which ended up being the only scores kicked at that end for the whole game.
Scott Norman got the Dragons off to a great start, taking a great high mark and then kicked the goal, with quick replies to Josh Ackland and Ali Thomas.
This saw the Magpies regain the advantage, until Norman kicked his second for the quarter, which seemed to flatten the Magpies' confidence.
Chad Clothier then soccered one through to see the Magpies go into the last break 22 points ahead, but they were looking vulnerable and the last quarter looked like it would be an absolute thriller.
With the atrocious weather conditions making it very hard for the players to sight the ball, the lights were turned on just prior to three quarter time hoping it would help the players' judgement and surely must be a first for a day game.
We were not disappointed as West were doing all the attacking, but the Magpie defence was holding firm.
That was until Mick Kellett took two strong marks within two minutes of each other and kicked two goals, and suddenly the Dragons were closing rapidly.
After a succession of points Ben Butler's goal put the Dragons level at the 15 minute mark and when Nathan Covino kicked his first (20 minute mark), the Dragons were in front for the first time in the game.
At this late stage of the game all players were just about out on their feet, with the play once again being bottled up.
When the siren sounded their were many tired, but happy Dragon players who had given their all to record a come from behind seven point victory, with the final scores being 9.9 to 8.8.
Scott Norman was probably best on ground, just shading Mick Kellett, with both of them playing a major part in the final score, with Norman's high flying mark and two goals in the third quarter and Kellett's two strong marks and goals in the final quarter.
Whyalla News medallist Leigh Symons was his usual busy self, with Blake Symons, Anthony Manfield and Ben Butler being others to play well.
For the Magpies Wayne Dare, Josh Trezise, David Atkinson, Sam Flanegan and Luke Seymour were their best, but over all it was not a very good performance by them as they certainly had their chances to win the game, but failed with poor ball handling skills when needed the most and let themselves down by not scoring at all into the strong wind.
The Dragons live to fight another day and will contest their second straight grand final, with a question mark hanging over the fitness of a couple players and a wait and see how much those tiring and energy sapping conditions took out of them.
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