Sport
24 April, 2026
AFL Hall of Famer Brent Harvey set to make Trentham return on Anzac Day
After becoming a legendary adopted saint who guided Trentham to the MCDFNL promise land last season, AFL legend Brent Harvey will once again don the red, white and black of the Saints in their marquee Anzac Day clash against Newstead tomorrow night.
With deep connections to historic Trentham families like the Keogh’s and Dovaston’s, the five-time North Melbourne best and fairest joined the Saints midway through the 2025 season following years of playful yet optimistic badgering from club volunteers and players like captain Joel Dovaston and loyal forward Jake Keogh.
A human highlight reel even at 47 years old, Harvey proved to be worth the wait, kicking 17 goals in six matches to help Trentham win their first premiership since 1994.
After years of believing he would never see the four-time All-Australian wear a Trentham guernsey, club president Nick Shearer said a return seemed much simpler.
“At Christmas time we said come on and the other years we didn’t think he really would, but this year I think we felt pretty confident that he really enjoyed it, so I don’t think it was that hard of a sell,” he said.
“Because he knew a lot of them anyway, they’re excited to have him play, but he just fit in really well.
“It’s great to have someone of his standing come and play and after a couple of games, he was just another bloke.”
While he would love to have a player of Harvey’s quality in his club’s senior team every week, Shearer said Trentham is leaving the ball of Boomer’s availability after Saturday’s match in his court.
“We will leave that up to him. He’s got commitments media wise and things like that,” he said.
“It might be that he doesn’t play too many now until the second half of the year, but we will leave that up to him at this stage.”
After captivating the MCDFNL world with a round 11 debut against eventual preliminary final opponents Navarre, Harvey played a further two matches during the 2025 home and away season, with one coincidentally being against Newstead in a 144-point demolition.
Following a disappointing 2025 that saw them slip out of the finals picture, the Steaders have put the rest of the league on notice to begin 2026.
With back-to-back victories against Avoca and Navarre, Newstead will look to cement their finals aspirations on Anzac Day against a Saints squad who opened their season with a 42-point defeat to 2025 Grand Final opponents Carisbrook.
Trentham senior coach Mark Adamson said Harvey’s productive ball use, encyclopaedic experience and leadership will be a massive boost to a team looking to regain its confidence and showcase its dominant best.
“He was just a really good team person to have around the group, he was able to provide a lot of guidance and support, but also just fitted in the group terrifically well,” he said.
“Carisbrook really got us on the hop, especially early. We feel like we can move the ball quickly and effectively. Our whole game style is around running and sharing the football and we just didn’t do that.
“I think it’s a really good reminder for us to not get ahead of ourselves and you’re only as good as your last game.
“We are really hoping the guys can take the game on, be proactive and get back to playing some really enjoyable footy.”
Anzac Day commemorations at Trentham Reserve will commence just before the 6 pm start of senior football and A grade netball games under the lights.
“The club’s privileged to play on Anzac Day night. When I looked at the draw and talked to the committee and president about it, I just thought it was an honour,” Adamson said.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, we’ve all probably had families or friends associated with people who have been in the armed forces, so it does mean something in Australia, and for our league, we’re lucky enough to get the opportunity.”