Port Douglas have every chance of ruining North's season according to Souths' skipper Daniel Lock, who was sipping some commiseration beers yesterday.
Minor premiers Norths were knocked off by Saints in the other semi-final and Lock said Port would definitely test them in this Saturday's preliminary final.
The midfielder got his team within five good kicks (11.18-84 to 8.11-59) of a preliminary final and could not have been more proud.
"They are a great team and we pushed them," he said.
"I told the boys afterwards to hold their heads high because of the season they'd had."
Souths were a long-shot at even making the top-four half way through the season as they dipped out of form.
But under Lock they rallied and pipped Manunda for fourth spot.
That was as good as it got though, outgunned by the Crocs despite a promising start to the game.
Manunda recruits Jason Campbell, Luke Powell and Paul Buller all scored goals in the first quarter as they jumped to a 28-4 lead with the wind behind them.
The Crocs were frothing for some wind of their own and certainly exploited it with five goals and five behinds in the second term.
Cutters' aggression was commendable in the first half, with lots of pressure on the ball proving a bit too much for the Crocs.
But a snap from Ben Saunders and goals to Kurt Bradshaw and Sam Boxsell steadied Port and they finished the half in control.
Sam Fary kept Souths in it in the third term, his second goal threading the needle and actually using the wicked breeze to his advantage in curling it through.
It helped the Cutters get eight in front at the final break, but that lead was instantly shredded.
When Braddon Kazakoff used the outside of his left foot from the pocket it was pretty well all over.
"You can't write anyone off in finals and they can definitely give it to Norths, I think," Lock said.
"Adam Boone and Dylan Wearmouth were fantastic for them and they have lots of talent there."
Last Modified on 11/10/2013 15:45