IT was the Gold Coast Football Club's first final in its short history and the playing group clung to a slender five-point lead over the Northern Knights at the 25-minute mark of the last term.

After a strong TAC Cup campaign, they were determined to win a final -- the widely acknowledged benchmark of a successful season.

But the Denis Pagan-coached Knights were equally desperate to win what had been an intense, tough and brutal elimination final at Visy Park in Melbourne.

That much was evident by the Knights' first term -- they led by three goals at quarter-time before the GCFC fought their way back.

In the tense final moments, there were acts of courage and desperation by the Coast -- who were a man down all day after a hamstring injury to forward Lewis Moss in the opening minutes.

As the Knights pushed forward, defender Jesse Haberfield made a strong and potentially game-saving tackle before diving on to the spilled ball and firing off a handball to Mitch Harley.

Harley, who was tripped up and awarded a free kick, fired the ball long to largely unknown and uncontracted young gun Luke Shreeve.

The quietly spoken 17-year-old Nerang High School student's confidence was sky high -- he had been the star all day with four goals to that point from the half forward flank.

From 55m out on the run, Shreeve -- the club's youngest player -- backed himself with the wind behind him and kicked long for home.

It was never in doubt and the Coast were home, 10-17 (77) to 9-9 (63).

Shreeve, who came through the Gold Coast Stingrays talent program, was without doubt the best on ground with five goals in a breakthrough performance on the big stage.

When asked if he believed Shreeve would play AFL football, GCFC coach Guy McKenna said:

"The way he is going at the moment, you would say 'yes'.

"He has got every chance of playing AFL.

"He is a beauty -- he sums up a lot of the fabric of our football club.

"His attack and his willingness to will himself in to a contest is fantastic and today he got the benefits of that."

Alik Magin, Joey Daye and Brad Rees also impressed, while the GCFC backline stood up in the heat of battle.

Jake Crawford was outstanding in defence, while Nathan Spring and Harley also battled hard.

The Coast now plays Eastern Ranges in Melbourne on Sunday in the first semi-final.

Courtesy of Nick Smart, Gold Coast Bulletin