Royals cap terrific season with third straight Great Southern Football League colts premiership

Royals colts clinched a premiership three-peat in the Great Southern Football League, with their superb second half proving too much for North Albany on Sunday. High-flying forward Saxon Henrickson produced a wonderful grand final performance, kicking five goals to lead the Lions to a 48-point triumph and secure their fifth premiership in the past six seasons. Henrickson kicked two first-quarter goals, while majors from the competition’s leading goal kicker Carson Bristow and a long-range effort from Lorcan McNamara had the Lions up by 19 points at the first change despite the Kangas having more inside-50s for the term. The Kangas peppered the goals early in the second term and Lachlan Edwards got his boot to the ball near the goal line to reduce the margin to nine points. The Lions hit back as Henrickson kicked back-to-back goals and Ryan Lazar then stretched the advantage to 29 points soon after. Kobi Keen slotted his second and then Rhori Williams-Jolley burst through for the Kangas to keep his side in the game at half time. However like they have done all season, the Lions kept finding answers to any challenge and they booted six goals to one in the last half to seal the convincing 13.11 (89) to 5.11 (41) victory. Henrickson took a stack of contested marks and booted his fifth major in the third term, going on to be recognised as the Panizza Brothers medallist as the best player on ground. McNamara (two goals) and Carson Flower were damaging in the midfield while Bristow kicked four and Malachi Stanton was also very influential. Lions coach Gary McNamara said the club was rapt for the players. “The main thing from (Sunday) is it was a full team effort and North challenged us a couple of times,” McNamara said. “Nine goals from our two key forwards was very important and the midfield battle was superb. “We knew if we could get our hands on the ball and get it forward we could put them under pressure. “Those boys have done themselves proud, most of them have won four in a row, two in sixteens and two in colts.” Keen finished with three goals for the Kangas and was very busy up forward. Oliver Dall and Nic Spangenberg were solid down back while midfielders Williams-Jolley and Heath Ravenhill worked tirelessly in defeat. “We were competitive in the first half and then they just took over from there,” Kangas coach Gavin Boyce said. “They are a quality side and are good on the outside and are very skilful and use the ball well. “Our midfield didn’t really fire shot. I’m really proud of the boys to come from fourth but maybe that third final was too much for them.”