Sport
26 May, 2026
Harcourt show finals conviction with Trentham dismissal
Harcourt has knocked off the second component of last season’s MCDFNL senior Grand Final in as many weeks, becoming early premiership favourites with a victory over Trentham.
Fresh off their thrilling victory over Carisbrook the week prior, Harcourt has knocked off the second component of last season’s MCDFNL senior Grand Final in as many weeks, asserting themselves as early premiership favourites with a 53-point victory over Trentham.
While their defence was the catalyst for them overcoming the venomous Redbacks, it was the Lions' attack that mauled the Saints at Harcourt Recreation Reserve, kicking an impressive 20.5 to overcome a two-goal quarter-time deficit.
After their last meeting in the 2025 qualifying final was settled with a kick after the siren, a hard-fought, thrilling contest was expected between two of the competition's perennial contenders on Saturday.
Unlike last season’s gripping final, goals were flying in at both ends during the opening quarter, as neither team could stop their opponents' talented ballwinners.
While Cameron Anderson, Thomas Walters, Jack Threlfall and Taylar McKnight were in brilliant form early for Harcourt, it was Trentham who took the early advantage.
With the likes of Cody Young, Joel Dovaston and Joel Cowan generating several inside 50s for Jake Keogh, James Regan and Cooper Webber-Mirkin to pounce on, the Saints boasted a 12-point lead at the opening change after kicking 5.2 in the first quarter.
Just as quickly as Trentham built their advantage, Harcourt clawed it right back.
While defenders Billy Quirk, Mark Noonan and Josh Taig quieted Trentham’s high-powered attack, Harcourt’s plethora of goal-scoring talent began to overwhelm the visitors.
Six second-quarter majors allowed the Lions to take a 14-point advantage into half time.
The Saints attempted to bridge the margin early in the second half, but Harcourt’s tackling pressure was relentless, forcing many Trentham disposals to be rushed or scuffed, which were regularly turned into a Lions counterattack.
As their deficit increased to 31 points at three-quarter time, Trentham knew they needed a rampaging start to the final term to kickstart any chance of a comeback.
However, after Jed Rodda kicked the quarter’s first goal, a free kick and 50 metre penalty resulted in Anderson unleashing a bomb towards goal that gave the hosts a seven-goal cushion.
Trentham did have a passage of control after the Lions added another major through Noonan before an excellent end-to-end goal started and finished by Anderson capped off a punctuating Harcourt victory.
Anderson continues to be one of the most influential players in the competition, listed in Harcourt’s best players alongside Quirk, Braydon Vaz, Noonan, McKnight and Mitch Rees.
Four of Harcourt’s 10 goalkickers ended with a bag of three, as Vaz, Threlfall, Mitchell McKnight and Nathan Anderson all provided consistent scoring punch.
Trentham named Harrison Knight, Young, Zachary Gervasoni, Mitchell Peeler, Cowan and Samuel Bartels as their standout performers in their disheartening defeat. Keogh led the team in scoring with three goals.