Sport
22 May, 2026
2026 MCDFNL Football Round 7 Preview — Harcourt vs Trentham
Another gripping instalment of one of the decade’s most impactful local football rivalries is set to launch this Saturday as Harcourt hosts Trentham.
It’s not an over-exaggeration to say this rivalry has helped decide the last five premierships, as these two teams have met in every finals series since 2018.
While the Lions had Trentham’s number on their way to winning premierships in 2022 and 2023, the Saints have flipped the script in recent years, triumphing in back-to-back qualifying finals at Harcourt’s expense.
In a feud that’s conjured so many iconic moments and matches, last year’s finals encounter was arguably its apex. Trailing by 14 points at half time, Trentham’s superstar forward James Regan put the Saints in front late before Thomas Walters missed a tough shot after the siren, which would’ve stolen the game for Harcourt.
Regan was one of ten Saints players on the scoresheet last weekend, finishing with six goals in Trentham’s 188-point demolition of Maldon. Loaded with difference-makers like Jake Keogh, Joel Cowan, Jye Adamson, Edward Fanning and Alister Ferrier, it sometimes seems impossible to contain Trentham’s explosive goal-kicking power.
However, as demonstrated in their clash with Carisbrook, the Lions are well equipped to tame opposing forward lines, holding the Redbacks to 34 points in a vital 22-point win.
Harcourt’s back six continues to be a well-oiled machine. With Billy Quirk and Jordan Gartside able to contain key forwards, Mark Noonan and Josh Taig complement their defensive duties with destructive transition potential that opens avenues for Cameron Anderson and Taylar McKnight.