Too early for many of the Margs boys, who stayed in bed, it left nine brave men to cross the Channybearup Road and take on our close rivals the Manjimuppians.

Clear underdogs, Margs tore into the match from the start, knocking Manjimup completely off balance with the level of commitment, passion and fire in their bellies.

Fifteen minutes in, Margs were one-nil up when Justin Davies smashed a lovely through ball from McLoughlin into the roof of the net.

Things got better 10 minutes later, when McLoughlin wrong footed the Manjimup keeper with a quick free kick that pea-rolled into the bottom left corner.

Ten minutes to go in first half and Margs, with nine men, were two-nil up, and clearly were the better side.

Manjumup pressed hard, but it looked like it was going Margs’ way when stand-in keeper Coogan made an excellent save to stop a near certain goal low to his right.

But, it wasn’t to be, as the Manjimup captain scored with a solid header from the resulting corner.

Two-one up, Margs took some shade at the break, and knew that an almighty 45 minutes lay ahead.

Sure enough, Manji came out firing, and Margs kept plugging away, but the heat and two men down started to sap energy.

Manji equalised with 10 minutes gone, as the Margs defence stalled for an offside which never came.

Basil the ref made the first of his woeful decisions when he awarded a Manjimup penalty for a nothing challenge, they scored to make it three-two.

An uphill struggle for Margs, but the efforts of the team were without question heroic.

Margs should have had their reward when Johnny the butcher was fouled in the box, Baz the ref decided to give an in-direct free kick instead of a penalty.

This is a rule that does not exist–it is a penalty or not a penalty, so Clive and Johnny gave the ref some well deserved dogs abuse.

Margs kept pushing hard, but even Coogan coming outfield for the last 10 could not turn things around, so as last time, we lost 3-2.

The players can hold their heads high, Coogan, McLoughlin, Cockburn, Kenneally, Richards, Longmore, Armena, Davies, Slater, legends each one.

If that level of performance and commitment can come from 11 players for the cup final against Collie we will be champions.

As we headed west along the Channybearup, with its crooked joints and copious Coopers, we knew we were warriors.

The boys who stayed home, were tucked into their beds and read a story by their mums by 9.30 that night, maybe next night they’ll hear the legend of the mighty nine men who went to Manjimup.