Sport
1 July, 2025
AFL legend Brent Harvey has signed with Trentham for the rest of the season
Australian Football Hall of Famer and AFL games record holder Brent Harvey has swapped his usual blue and white jumper for red and black, joining Trentham for the rest of the 2025 season.
Announced on Thursday evening to much fan-fare, Harvey made his debut for the club against Navarre on Saturday, playing a pivotal role in the Saints 106-point victory over the Grasshoppers.
The signing is a massive coup for Trentham as they push for their first MCDFNL premiership since 1994, something that according to club president Nick Shearer has been years in the making.
“His family and two of our footy club families, the Dovaston and the Keogh family have been friends with him for around 30 years,” he said.
“We sort of all know Boomer pretty well and we have been badgering him for a number of years to come down and play and he has always promised he would.
“We have been into him again this year and he said we will come up.”
The five-time North Melbourne best and fairest wasted no time dazzling in front of a capacity crowd at Trentham Reserve.
Harvey kicked a remarkable goal in the first quarter, soccering off the ground in the direction of James Regan, receiving a handball from the Saints star forward, shimming past a defender, and snapping truly much to the delight of the home crowd.
Shearer said the sight of Harvey wearing a Trentham jumper was thrilling for all the Saints faithful.
“All the young kids were really excited, they were coming in and shaking his hand before the game and he had a chat with them all as well,” he said.
“He sort of felt like a Trentham guy almost because they all knew him, he fitted in so easily.
“I know blokes were nervous playing with him and I think Boomer was anxious to do well himself.
“Boomer did some Boomer magic, kicked a goal and I think he felt comfortable in it.
“As the game progressed, he was able to sit back and enjoy the game.”
The chance to play alongside his lifelong friend for his beloved Trentham was something club legend Jake Keogh wishfully thought could happen but said he never fully believed it would ever come to fruition.
“We have been hassling him for about five years to come out and play for Trentham so finally we got him over the line,” he said.
“It sort of started as a joke and over the last five years it got a bit more serious and I said ‘come have a kick with the local boys out in the bush’.
“I couldn’t believe it really, I didn’t ever think it was going to happen.
“His leadership and all of his little points make things so much easier to play.
“It’s good exposure for the club and it’s great to be able to play with someone who’s so good and classy.”
It’s an experience Keogh will get to enjoy again throughout this campaign, with the four-time All-Australian committed for the rest of the year.
Shearer said the club is still working on Harvey’s availability but fully expects him to contribute to Trentham’s finals push come September.
“It wasn’t like these one-off sort of games, he’s going to play for the year and hopefully we will try and win a flag with him,” he said.
“We definitely know on August 2nd when we play Newstead, that’s our final home game, he will be playing in that game so we want everyone to come.
“Obviously we will work out when he plays, he’s got other commitments so there may be a game or two he can’t play, but we can qualify him for finals if he plays three or four games so we are really looking forward to having him.”