Hurricane North Whyalla swept through Bennett Oval on Saturday as the Maggies stormed into the grand final with a 51 point victory over a disappointing South Whyalla.
The Magpies showed the hunger and the intensity that is needed to win finals, and are a big chance of winning their first flag since 1979.
The conditions for the game were atrocious with a howling wind which would have got to 60km/h at certain stages of the day blowing straight into the wind sock pocket.
Even when kicking with the aid of the strong breeze, it was going to be tough to score.
South had first opportunity with the wind and needed to jump out of the blocks early and get themselves a good lead.
But it wasn't to be as the Maggies came out on the attack and were pressuring the Demons at every opportunity and were bottling up play well making it hard to score.
Troy Miller got the first major of the day for the Demons as he snapped from about 20m to give the Dees the goal they wanted after a few missed opportunities and when Jarrod Reid goaled on the siren, he gave South a 17 point lead at quarter time; not a big lead, but if they could assert the same pressure on North as was being applied to them they could still be in front at half-time.
North came out firing in the second quarter and looked a lot hungrier.
Josh Trezise and Chad Menzies were working their way into the game and in the forward line Nick Prokopek wasn't taking the big grabs but was playing in front like a good forward does and was dishing out handballs, which were resulting in goals with North opening up a commanding 21 point lead at half time 5-11 to 2.8.
The start of the third quarter and the wind had seemed to pick up a notch and it was going to be crucial for South to kick goals, and quick, as they needed their noses in front at three quarter time if they were to be a chance.
North didn't let up their pressure and intensity though and they started to control the game and it looked like it was going to be hard for South to get back into the game.
Menzies, Clothier, Seymour and company were now finding space and were using the ball far better than the Demons into the strong head wind.
The Magpie defence led by Tim Brown, Mark Strawbridge and Nick Hellowell were under siege but stood strong, restricting South to just 2-1 for the quarter and went into the last break with their beaks in front to lead by 8 pts.
In the final term all the pressure, hard running and want to work for a mate finally paid off for North as they broke the Demons back and banged on seven last quarter goals to one and stormed to a convincing 51 point win.
The Magpies were simply brilliant as they played the type of footy that wins you finals and if they can reproduce that against the Dragons next week the long awaited premiership flag may be closer than everyone thinks.
For the Magpies Josh Trezise was superb; he tackled, chased, won plenty of possession and capped his game off with two goals, Luke Seymour was another who led the Demon defence a merry dance with three goals.
Tim Brown was good in defence and both Clothier and Menzies had plenty of the ball.
For the Demons Eddie Wilson was magnificent and gave his all. Brad Page, Ryan Baker and Peter Jackson also had a go all day for the Dees.
Well that's curtains down for the Beach Road boys for season 2008, a year in which they finished a position higher than 2007, so they should be quite happy with their season and will be looking to improve once again next year.
For the Magpies all the hard work has only just begun and if Saturday is anything to go by they are a real premiership chance.
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