Fifteen minutes into the final quarter of last Saturday’s bruising VFL match between Gold Coast Football Club and Geelong and the game was treading a tightrope.

Scores were all but level. Neither side was giving an inch. And the players looked spent. At the stoppages, many were clutching at the front of their jumpers Robert Harvey-style as they searched in vain for an extra gasp of air. Plenty of the local mob were already nursing the scars of a torrid battle - black eyes, sore ribs, split skin. A few had already been ushered from the field. Soon enough one would come off on a stretcher when his ankle gave way.

To be honest, especially with GCFC’s on field stocks taking a battering, it was all looking a bit grim.

Why?

Because the boys in red had been in this situation five times already.

In every round so far GCFC had been in things up to its neck until the final term. And in every other round the natural pecking order had prevailed – men had beaten boys; mature, trained, seasoned bodies had stolen the win.

But today would be different.

Perhaps GCFC’s fresh-faced foot soldiers were sick of being the younger, bullied brother. Perhaps a sixth week of ‘almost-but-not-quite’ would have been too much to bear. Whatever the case, in a stirring reminder of the power of mind over body, the home side found something extra when it mattered. In a frenzied five minute patch before the final siren GCFC simply willed the ball forward. In a game where attack was rare and points were precious, the home side managed to thread three goals to Geelong’s nil. And in the end, GCFC found a way – its prize - a first up VFL win in front of a delighted Gold Coast crowd.

For GCFC’s first successful VFL captain, Daniel Harris, if the price of success was the pain, victory was its anaesthetic.

"There are a few guys with some sore heads but that is football but you don't really feel it when you win,” he said.

And he’d know – his grin was ear to ear even if his still swelling right eye was the colour of a Barossa shiraz.

Harris said an injection of fresh faces and the playing group’s continuing physical improvement had paid dividends.

“Bluey always mentions how many people cramped but there was hardly anyone cramping today. And there was a few changes this week meant there was a few fresh enthusiastic blokes in and they all played their roles. We’re getting better week by week.”

“We’ve come close a few times, but just probably haven’t taken our opportunities late in the game whereas today we took our shots on goal. I thought our defensive pressure was really good.”

GCFC Senior Coach Guy McKenna, also praised the fight of his players.

"Mav (Weller), Harro (Harris) and Luke Russell. They all soldiered on when they could have easily hoisted the flag and said ‘I've had enough’. In the end they all got some value for their effort.”

He said enthusiasm on and off the field helped get his charges home.
“We’ve certainly got a good spirit on the field and the spirit off the field is gathering momentum.”

GCFC has a bye this weekend.

The club will play next when it hosts Collingwood at Fankhauser Reserve, Southport on Saturday 29 May 2010 at 2.00pm.