Duo the best of enemies
THERE is a sign on the wall in the North Adelaide changerooms at Prospect which reads 'competitive pig dogs'.
THERE is a sign on the wall in the North Adelaide changerooms at Prospect which reads 'competitive pig dogs'.
The three words are some of the last the Roosters see before they run out for every home game and are designed to be a not-too-subtle reminder of the relentless attack on the footy coach Josh Francou wants to see.
"I think every club in Australia would have something (written on their walls)," Francou said.
"It's just a term, it's a bit different but it's about having that competitive mindset."
But for a month leading into the finals, the message wasn't getting through and North limped into the major round after five straight losses.
That was until they belted Central District by 10 goals in Sunday's elimination final.
Not many sides have bullied the Bulldogs in the past 10 years and even fewer have done it at AAMI Stadium.
North Adelaide has now done it two years in a row and two players who typify the "competitive mindset" Francou demands are Jay Shannon and Max Thring.
"We got him (Shannon) in the back half of last season and when we had the double bye we went to Victor Harbor for a training camp where we had a scratch match," Francou said.
"And after 15 minutes I remember thinking 'how did Port let this guy go?'. He's strong, he's competitive, he reads the ball well he's a bloke who I know what I'll get in round one and I know what I'll get in round 20."
Thring meanwhile finished sixth with 14 votes in Tuesday's Magarey Medal.
"I've loved him since the first training session I took in 2011, he can do run-with roles and has the ability to find the ball," Francou said.
"He hates losing and it was good to see him rewarded with (Magarey) votes."
As North prepares for Sunday's first semi final against the Eagles, a friendly rivalry has continued at Maughan Thiem on Port Road where Shannon works alongside Eagles midfielder Scott Lewis.
"The boss goes for North so he's on Jay's side," Lewis said.
"He lets Jay lie down while I do all the work."
But Shannon said the banter was no different to any other week.
"Every week if he loses and I win or vice versa we get into each other," Shannon said.
Shannon said he was pleased his side had rediscovered its winning ways.
"Even when we were down we were still confident because we know that when we play well we can match it with anyone," he said.
The last time the two sides met was in Round 20 when the Eagles trounced the Roosters at Prospect.
But the win was soured by Eagles ruckman Craig Parry being deregistered for striking North's Matthew Campbell - which took him over the combined suspension threshold - before he successfully appealed against the decision and was given one last chance.