Football
30 September, 2024
From boys to men
It is well known that in 2024, Harrow Balmoral had six kids step up from under-17s to play their first season of football: George Austin, Maddox Blake, Rhys Daffey, Josh Grant, Alex Rees, and Brody Devlin. Five played in the 2018 under-14s team.
Austin, Daffey, and Grant played in the 2024 premiership, with Maddox Blake being one of the unlucky ones to miss out due to the return of Michael Close and Matt Jones.
Blake, Austin, Daffey, Grant, and Rees all played in the under-14s in 2018, so they are homegrown talent, which will help the club moving forward.
Daffey, Blake, Grant and Austin were all asked to describe coach Jai Thompson, who has led the team to 36 straight wins and back-to-back premierships.
Daffey played 16 games, kicking 32 goals, one in the grand final and was among the best players on six occasions and said that Thompson is "the best leader you can ask for."
Maddox Blake played 16 games, kicked 19 goals, and was named best player three times. After missing out on the grand final, he ran water, showing his dedication to the club, and described Thompson as "a good role model".
Josh Grant played 15 games, kicked four goals, was listed as the best on one occasion, and brought a lot of run to the team. He played in the grand final with his brother Mitch. He described Thompson as "sensational and unreal".
George Austin, whose dad was a three-time premiership player with Harrow Balmoral, played in 18 games, kicked one goal and was in the best on one occasion playing off halfback. He described Thompson as a coach who "leads from the front."
Alex Rees played seven games for the seniors, kicking one goal. He also played seven games in the reserves, kicking two goals and being in the best on five occasions, and he is ready to take the next step in 2025.
Brody Devlin tasted four senior games. In the reserves, he kicked four goals and was the best player on five occasions and he is ready to up his game in 2025.
With another couple of players coming up from the under-17s team in 2025 and Harrow Balmoral looking at potentially having a standalone under-17s team again, the future is bright for this mighty team.