Sport
18 September, 2023
Lion kings make it back-to-back premierships
Harcourt’s 27th victory in a row was perhaps the sweetest one of all, taking back-to-back premierships over Carisbrook after a gripping battle. The 11-point win was the seventh premiership for the Lions. Unlike last year’s wet decider, the game...

HARCOURT 11.7 (73) def CARISBROOK 9.8 (62)
Harcourt’s 27th victory in a row was perhaps the sweetest one of all, taking back-to-back premierships over Carisbrook after a gripping battle.
The 11-point win was the seventh premiership for the Lions.
Unlike last year’s wet decider, the game was played in the most remarkable of September sunshine.
With the breeze picking up towards the rotunda end, Harcourt had the benefit of kicking that way after winning the toss, and took full advantage in the first term with a brutal start which left the Redbacks wanting.
In particular, it was two pieces of brilliance from 2022 premiership co-coach Alex Code that had the enormous Harcourt contingent up and about early on.
Firstly, a brilliant snap from the pocket gave the Lions the first goal of the game just 30 seconds in, before coming back with the flight of the ball to take a courageous mark just two minutes later, giving the Lions an early 12-point break.
Brayden Frost kicked their third at the seven-minute mark, and when Baxter Gurd kicked another just a minute later, thanks to another bit of brilliance from Code, who tapped the ball with two Redbacks opponents on him, the Lions had four goals and established a 22-point lead.
Ten minutes followed before Harcourt had their fifth, with co-captain Tom Walters getting on the board, and the margin was out to a game-high 30 points.
Carisbrook were desperate for a spark from somewhere. Not even 20 minutes into the game, the game was already slipping away.
Luckily for them, Harry Butler pulled his socks up and got to work, kicking the Redbacks’ first goal of the day.
From the bounce, it seemed evident that everything Harcourt were doing was ending up in a goal, with Jed Rodda immediately restoring the 30-point cushion with a remarkable goal from the pocket.
A much-needed response from Ash Munari meant that the Redbacks were able to whittle the margin back to 23 points at the first break.
The second quarter was a battle, with the Lions desperate to preserve their big lead going into the breeze.
It took eight minutes for the first goal of the quarter to be scored, with Lachlan Edwards’ effort from the pocket reducing the Lions’ lead to 15.
Eight minutes passed before Patrick Van der pol was able to get the Harcourt lead into single digits.
To Harcourt’s credit, they fought extremely hard to preserve their lead, and Frost took an excellent mark with two Redback players either side of him, converting to keep the Lions in front by 14 points at the main break.
Back against the breeze, Carisbrook desperately needed to make an indent, and it was provided thanks to a Butler goal from the goal square.
However, Harcourt had a response, and Walters was the man for the job, kicking a second goal to keep the margin at 15 points.
The Redbacks weren’t done with yet, with Steven Patterson expertly crumbing a forward line stoppage to keep them interested.
Harcourt continued to frustrate Carisbrook, and a second goal to Rodda would not have helped their mood, with the Lions 16 points up at the final change.
The Redbacks knew that it was go time if they were to come back and secure their first premiership since 2018.
Luckily, Butler was the man for the job.
He firstly took a big contested mark in the first three minutes to reduce the margin to 10 points, before kicking another goal minutes later to leave the Redbacks as close as they have all day.
Just a minute later, the red and black faithful erupted as Anthony Zelencich was able to put the Redbacks in front for the first time.
However, Harcourt’s game is built on defensive pressure in the front half, and it was fitting that the Lions were able to make their stand in that aspect of the game.
Huntly provided a moment of unbelievable brilliance, charging down a smother inside 50, gathering the crumb in the pack, and goaled from close range to give the Lions back the lead in what was to be the defining moment of the game.
At the 21-minute mark, it was perhaps fitting that Code, who started the run, had also ended it, with a big mark in the goal square allowing him to put through the sealer.
An enormous performance from Harcourt utility Jordan Gartside, one which saw him utilise his game-changing pace and burst from the stoppage situation both through the midfield and even as a pinch-hitting ruckman at times, saw the Lions’ junior product join famous names such as teammates Frost and Jeff McMurtrie as best on ground medallists for the Lions.
Alongside him, Frost, Huntly, Walters, Cameron Anderson and Bryce Frost were exceptional, playing their roles.
For Butler’s efforts, he was awarded the AFL Victoria medal in a brilliant performance, while Bowen, Lewis Rinaldi, Edwards, Patterson and Adam Hurse were also named in the best.
THE COACHES' SAY
For Harcourt mentor Dan Wridgway, the success of 2023 was a culmination of an unbelievable personal year, which saw him welcome his second child, as well as his father’s own involvement in Northern Football Netball League team Laurimar’s inaugural premiership the week before.
With Wridgway taking brief paternity leave mid-season, he and Kal Huntly combined to ensure the Lions would go undefeated throughout 2023, as they stretched their winning run to 27 games.
Wridgway said he came into 2023 still determined to prove a point after their 2022 premiership success.
“It’s a reward for effort for our boys,” he said.
“I think there were a few murmurings around that last year was a bit of a fluke, so we used that as motivation to achieve that again to show that our success wasn’t just a flash in the pan.
“The boys worked really hard over pre-season and stayed hungry and humble.”
The 2023 premiership was the second time the Lions had gone undefeated in a season, joining their 2006 efforts.
“There are a few of the older boys walking around the club who I think went undefeated in 2006, so they can now go and join that group as undefeated champions, which is exciting,” Wridgway said.
Wridgway was quick to praise 2022 co-coach Alex Code, as well as Huntly, for their efforts in leading the way on Saturday.
“Kal was great as he already had a great relationship with all the boys. For him to come back to the club and win a premiership is fantastic,” he said.
“He has played a high level of football around the area and he is renowned for being a gun. He has a wealth of knowledge.
“Codey is another local and the club means everything to him and his family. He is a great bloke on and off the field and it was great for him to get some reward too.”
Wridgway spoke in high regard to the collective success the Lions have achieved this year, with three junior netball teams also taking premierships on Saturday.
“The club as a whole has been rewarded. I’ve spoken all year about the collective rather than the individual and to get the reward for the community is so good,” he said.
For Huntly, winning a flag for Harcourt was the culmination of years of work, with many juniors coming through the ranks.
“It’s special. Thirteen or 14 people have come through the juniors in this team,” he said.
“There were a few happy tears out there. I didn’t know whether we were going to get it done when Carisbrook hit the front, but we got there.
“I think it comes down to loyalty, a lot of people love the club, the coaching is great and everyone helps behind the scenes. It’s more than the 22 who take the field each week, it’s a whole club effort.”
Like Wridgway, Huntly praised the Harcourt community for their support.
“It’s certainly been a successful year. All the way from Harcourt through to the ground, there were streamers on the side of the road and posters saying ‘Go Harcourt’, the whole community gets behind us,” he said.
“A few of us also made the trip to watch our junior netballers as well. It was a long day, but it was great to be rewarded.”
Stepping in to the role mid-season to give Wridgway a hand, Huntly said his role was to keep the momentum going.
“This group is great to coach, and Dan set a path to make sure everyone followed it. I made sure no one stepped out of line. Not many teams who win a flag go through undefeated,” he said.