Football
25 October, 2026
Year of the Demons
Laharum capped off a strong year in both football and netball by claiming the 2026 HDFNL senior football premiership.
Season headlines
- Laharum claimed three HDFNL premierships – senior football, under 17 netball and under 15 netball – and the under 15.5 girls' WFNL football premiership
- senior football leading goalkicker: Jack Fenner (96 during home-and-away season, 114 overall)
- A grade netball leading goal shooter: Ilze Van Zyl (494 during home-and-away season, 563 overall)
League award winners:
- Jack Fenner (senior football runner-up best and fairest and leading goal kicker), Ilze Van Zyl (A grade best under 21 and leading goal shooter), Maya Przibilla (B grade best and fairest), Angus Crute (under 14 football best and fairest), Ivy Hofmaier (under 15 best and faifest runner up)
Fairytale season for Dees
Having shown rapid improvement since their winless 2023 season, an emphatic 12-game winning streak to finish the year saw Laharum claim the 2026 Horsham District Football Netball League senior football premiership.
Despite an early-season loss against Kaniva Leeor, coach Robbie Miller identified his team’s bounce-back win against Noradjuha Quantong the week after as a major turning point.
“There was a bit of a disappointment at the loss to Kaniva earlier in the season,” Miller said.
“They completely outplayed us, and that was a bit of a shake-up that perhaps we did need.
“To back it up with the win against Noradjuha Quantong the week after, I think that was a defining moment for the group to realise that we are good enough.
“Speaking of our finals campaign, it seemed like such a big task beating Harrow Balmoral twice in a row and then Noradjuha Quantong twice in a row, and to not lose a game since round seven was absolutely massive.
“I think the belief gradually grew among the group throughout the year but that was through their want, their intent to train to get better each week, and they got the results themselves.”
Along with very strong back-six and midfield groups, the Demons’ offence took a significant leap.
Competition-leading goalkicker Jack Fenner proved himself as one of the biggest X-factors all year with his marking and goalkicking ability, while young half forward Josh Hutchinson’s progression throughout the year concluded with a best-on-ground performance in their 62-51 grand final win over the Bombers.
Asked about the key to the team’s success, the Laharum coach acknowledged the whole team’s ability to play their individual roles.
“We played to our strengths and we also did a lot of opposition analysis as well,” Miller said.
“The best thing about our group was that we didn't rely on one or two people to wear the Superman cape; we relied on everyone in the whole squad to know and play their role, and the result was the premiership.”
The club is already eyeing sustained success, having named numerous recruits early in the offseason.
As well as re-signing the majority of their 2026 squad, the side will welcome Ryan Gebert as one of their 2027 assistant coaches, as well as youngsters Zavier Purdue, Will Hobbs, Jed Pohlner and Lenix Nelson from the Wimmera league.
Miller said aiding some youth would help in the years to come.
“We had been in close contact with Ryan over the last couple of years and he has a real want and willingness to learn how to coach,” he said.
“He'll be doing a lot of observing, listening, as well as seeking feedback from me, Hamish (Roberts) and Brodie Mines.
“We do also have a bit of an ageing list and we can't play forever so young local talent was a bit of a priority for our recruitment so far and these young guys fit that bill.
“They're good-quality people who tick every box of our club values.”
Demons dominant on court
Despite falling just short of premiership success, Laharum’s A-grade netball team demonstrated they were back to their best with a dominant home-and-away season in 2026.
The Demons quickly announced themselves as the team to beat with a strong 67-30 opening-round win, ultimately finishing the regular season on top of the ladder with 15 wins and just one loss.
With a mix of returning players and recruits, co-coach Brooke Taylor said she was surprised by how quickly the team found its feet.
“The start of the season was actually better than what we anticipated,” Taylor said.
“There are some players who have been there a long time, there were positional changes, a couple of new players in the mix, a couple of mums coming back from having babies, so we actually thought we might start the season a little bit slower than what we did.
“We were probably a bit surprised to go undefeated to round nine and I think it did put a target on our backs for the rest of the season.”
After progressing to the grand final with a commanding 62-37 second semi-final victory over Noradjuha Quantong, the Demons were within reach of Edenhope Apsley for the majority of the grand final before going down 53-46.
Although they didn’t get the result they were after, the Laharum coach said making the grand final was evidence of their outstanding season.
"It's always something to be proud of to make the grand final and not something you take for granted,” Taylor said.
“It's a long season and it takes a consistent effort across the whole season to put yourself in the position of making the grand final.
“I'm really proud of the way the girls played this season to put themselves in that position.
“They really set the standard early on and pushed other teams to raise the bar.
"Although it's obviously disappointing not to come away with the win in the end, the girls should be proud of the way they played together as a team.
“They played some brilliant netball throughout the season."
As well as their semi-final win, Taylor said there were plenty of highlights to come from the season.
“There are a lot of positives to take out of the season,” she said.
“It's was so good to see Maddie (Iredell) and Cato (Caitlin Jones-Story) come back so strong after giving birth, with Cato’s accuracy right up there and Maddie showing how talented she is moving to wing attack.
“Ema (Iredell) stepping up into a leadership role this season, I thought she was outstanding.
“Also the excitement of having younger players in Ilze (Van Zyl) and Jaspa (Robinson) come in and the impact they had.”
Amid finals appearances from most of their senior grades, the Demons’ netball future appears to be in strong hands, with both the under 15 and under 17 teams having claimed premierships.
Laharum awards and milestones
- senior football best and fairest: Daniel Easson; runner-up: Todd Heynen; most consistent/best in finals: most determined: Reuben Launder; most improved: Monty Wynne; coaches' award: Ryan Thomas
- senior women’s football best and fairest: Jess Cannane; runner-up: Poppy Peters; most consistent/leading goal kicker: Violetr McGennisken; most determined: Ema Iredell; most improved: Olivia Lenehan; coaches' award: Ally Doak
- reserves football best and fairest: August Koch; runner-up: Daniel Down; most consistent: Bailey Barry; most determined: Sam Foster; best utility: Jack Gardner; coaches' award: Matt Quick
- under 17s football best and fairest: Nash McKenzie; runner-up: Justin Mutch; most consistent: Joel Plazzer; most determined: Luke White; best utility: Ryan Steadman; best first year player: Ollie Clarke; best team player: Hamish Mintern
- under 15.5 girls football best and fairest: Bella Spokes; runner-up: Claudia Pennyl most consistent: Lilly Peucker; coaches' award: Ellua Boyd
- under 14s football best and fairest: Angus Crute; runner-up best and fairest: Lachie Dunn; most consistent: Jack Arnel; most determined: Will Wood; best utility: Judd Benson; best first year player: Jack Steadman; coaches' award: Mason Jennings and Max Both
- A grade netball best and fairest and best in finals: Ilze Van Zyl; runner-up best and fairest: Caitlin Jones-Story; third: Jaspa Robinson; coaches' award: Rylee Hateley
- B grade netball best and fairest and best in finals: Maya Przibilla; runner-up: Courtney Taylor; third: Ella Janetzki; coaches' award: Georgia Foster.
- C grade netball best and fairest: Ava Bell; runner-up: Jess Whitworth; third: Olivia Lenehan; coaches' award: Charlie Arnott
- C reserve netball best and fairest: Bridget MacInnes; runner-up: Charli Watts; third: Eden Dunn; coaches' award: Mollie Scott; best in finals: Zyla Nelson
- under 17 netball best and fairest: Ilze Van Zyl; runner-up: Hannah Plazzer; third: Maya Przibilla; coaches' award: Lilly Peucker
- under 15 best and fairest: Ivy Hofmaier; runner-up: Lydi Boyd; third: Chloe Butsch; coaches' award: Ane Van Zyl
- under 13 best and fairest: Steph Plazzer; runner-up: Layla King; third: Maya Smith: coaches' award: Mekah Miller
Club awards:
- Michelle Mibus Unsung Hero: Hayley Crute; chairperson’s award: Peter Both; best club person: Rowena Doyle; best junior club people: Eden Dunn and Hamish Mintern; life membership: Herb Hallam
- milestones: Sarah Matthews (100 games), Mel De Graaf (150 games), Ged Matthews (300 games), Ema Iredell (350 games), Olivia Lenehan (100 games), Jeremy Chaplin (150 games), Hayley Crute (400 games), Eden Dunn (100 games).