A few setbacks did not stop former Junior Dolphin Josh Beehag from realising one of his dreams and playing for his Club in the 2018 Intrust Super Cup Grand Final.
Josh is one of three players in the Intrust Super Cup Championship team who is a former Junior Dolphin and product of the Dolphins Development Academy programs.
“As a local junior Josh has been here longer than any of our senior squad. He’s played 56 first grade games, won two Colts Premierships and now a First Grade Premiership. The pathway Josh has followed to play for our top team is what our programs are here for,” Development Manager Steve Crawford said.
General Manager of Football Grant Cleal said Josh has had to do things the hard way but his story and journey to the Premiership is a lesson for all players in regards to hard work and perseverance, particularly after setbacks.
“Injuries, getting dropped or not getting picked at all are all part of high level team sports. Some players succumb to these setbacks and others let it drive them harder to achieve. Josh has had his share of disappointments, most notably being dropped on the eve of the 2016 grand final. Josh and another player had played most of the season in first grade but missed selection the night before the most important game of his career at that point. Josh was disappointed, who would not have been? But what he did next makes him a success,” Cleal said.
Josh turned up to pre-season training for 2017 in the best shape of his career and worked hard to get back into the team. He again missed selection in the finals series, in which the Dolphins lost the Preliminary final. “Despite this, he again returned to training for the 2018 pre-season, worked hard, got dropped, worked hard, missed selection and again worked hard while waiting for another shot, only to get picked again and dropped again while contending with Broncos Pearson, Opacic, Pangai and Staggs in the outside backs,” Cleal said.
The Grand Final team for 2018 was announced and Josh was named, winning his first First Grade Premiership with his junior Club. Cleal said Josh will be back next year. “Josh never gives up and his team mates know it. He’ll be back doing it all again with us in 2019.”