GSFL 2021 Royals preview: Lions confident depth and young talent can drive their bid for third straight flag

Royals will chase a hat-trick of Great Southern Football League premierships this season, a feat not achieved by the club since its golden period at the turn of the century. The Lions won six straight flags in a dominant run from 1999-2004, and now coach Andrew Ruck has the chance to lead his club to a third successive title. Ruck will have a similar playing group at his disposal to the one that finished 44-point winners over Denmark-Walpole in last year’s grand final. Premiership duo Paul Donaldson and Nathan Small have retired, while young star Tyreice Brown and tall Cameron Higgins have both left after playing senior football last season. The Lions will get Corey Ward back for a full season but Ruck believes his side’s improvement will come from their abundance of talented younger players. Seb Stanton, Jared Hayes and Brett Hooper are likely to get league exposure during the season, and Ruck expects their strong colts group containing the likes of Lorcan McNamara, Carson Flower, Cooper Childs and Ben Altus will also play senior footy. “We’ve got a pretty good colts group so we’ll give them an opportunity,” Ruck said. “We like to think (we’ll be contending again). “We have good older blokes and a good group of between 20 and 26 and a bit of depth which helps us. “Albany is a place where you win one and everyone is happy for you, you win two and it’s a bit smelly and if you win three everyone is off you.” The Lions have appointed a new captain with Brayden Parker to lead the club for the first time, replacing premiership skipper Rhys Jones. Ryan Flick and Jordan Heil will be his deputies. Alan Barnett Medal winner Jayson Ford again looms as a key to the Lions hopes of a three-peat along with midfielder Declan McNamara who finished in the top five in the Kleemann Medal. Ruck said he was unsure what the other five clubs will be like following a COVID-19 interrupted 2020 season. “After COVID the main thing is trying to get back to a full season and get people investing back in footy clubs again,” he said. “I’ve got no idea about the other teams but it’s a good coaching group with a lot of AFL and WAFL experience. “We’ll have a good understanding after round five where we sit.” ROYALS Coach: Andrew Ruck Captain: Brayden Parker 2020 finish: Premiers Ins: Corey Ward (returning). Outs: Paul Donaldson (retired), Nathan Small (retired), Tyreice Brown (Claremont), Cameron Higgins.