Noradjuha-Quantong captain Dustin Cross is still coming to terms with what his side have achieved in 2019.
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The young Bombers have taken the Horsham District football league by storm this season, making a sudden ascent from a mid-table team to a grand finalist.
The rapid rise has been extra special for Cross, 22, who has already been through thick and thin at Noradjuha-Quantong.
The young leader became captain three seasons ago at the age of 19, a move emblematic of Noradjuha-Quantong's decision to develop the youth.
"I've played all my junior footy here, I was captain for most of my under-17s and I formed a really tight bond with my coach Heath Francis," Cross said.
"In my second year of senior footy, he became the coach. We had a fair few players depart, and at the start of the season he said that the boys had elected me to be the captain.
"As a 19-year-old that was pretty daunting. But I felt like I had a good bond with the coaches Heater (Francis) and Jason Kerr. They helped me find my voice and gave me the chance to be a leader."
It was a baptism of fire for Cross, as Noradjuha-Quantong won just two games in his first season as skipper.
"It was a really tough year," he said.
"As a young captain, it was really hard to front up each week, to think of something to say to the boys before the game and at half time.
"But I knew we just had to get through the tough times.
"There was a good feeling around the club that we were still going somewhere."
While Cross was always optimistic, the turnaround has occurred more suddenly than he ever expected.
"It's crazy," Cross said.
"There have been moments since Saturday where it just hits you, like, 'you're playing a grand final. You're that team'. It doesn't feel real yet."
Cross said captaining Noradjuha-Quantong's first grand final side would make the day extra special.
"I love being the captain of this club," he said.
"I just feel honoured to be leading the side out on a grand final day.
"I know people at the club that have waited a long time for us to get here.
"Being the skipper of the first grand final side from Noradjuha-Quantong ... it's something I'll cherish for the rest of my life."
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Richard Crabtree
richard.crabtree@austcommunitymedia.com.au
richard.crabtree@austcommunitymedia.com.au
