Harvey-Waroona’s biggest sporting headlines for 2021

JANUARY Clubs enjoy cup day The Harvey-Benger and Waroona cricket clubs came together to play in the annual Ben Ward Cup day in Harvey, with the home side claiming a 60-run victory. FEBUARY Water star! Australind teenager and rising star Kyle Lee pocketed two podium finishes in open water swimming events, going back-to-back in the Busselton Jetty Swim and finishing third in the grueling Rottnest Channel Swim. A broken bone won’t stop me After a stand-out debut in Britain’s Superleague, Harvey’s netball champion Donnell Wallam broke her arm, but the 191cm shooter said she would not let the injury stop her. MARCH Back in the fold WAFL premiership player and Harvey local Braden Fimmano announced his return to his old stomping ground, while his father and club stalwart Ned, who led the Bulls to back-to-back premierships in ‘04 and‘05, would also return to the club as the league’s assistant coach. APRIL Lions run down the Magpies Despite a slow start, the Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault Lions roared to success by toppling eventual SWFL grand finalists, the Busselton Magpies, in round one. Bulls break two-year drought For Harvey Bulls supporters, the long wait was over after they defeated Carey Park by 16 points to claim the club’s first win in two years. A packed Rec Ground rode every bump throughout the night as the the Bulls won 13.14 (92) to 12.4 (76). MAY Humphries fires up against old team Silky Lions superboot Jarrod Humphries tormented his former Eaton Boomers teammates at Brunswick Oval as Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault rolled to a commanding 13.5 (83) to 4.11 (35) win. Humphries, who had booted only four goals in as many games before the clash, kicked six against the Boomers in one of the classiest performances of his career. JUNE Lions take it to the Bulls Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault retained the Bottlemart Cup after defeating the Harvey Bulls by 34 points at Brunswick Oval. Despite the 11.11 (77) to 6.7 (43) victory, Lions spectators witnessed a unique ending to the afternoon, with their players completing a series of run-throughs after the match. Fimmano steps up for Bulls The Harvey Bulls confirmed assistant coach and club legend Ned Fimmano will take over as head coach for the remainder of the 2021 season after Alan Douglas made the decision to step down after a season and a half in the role due to health reasons. JULY Hughes out of Freo side Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault product Ethan Hughes was dropped from the Fremantle side that faced the Sydney Swans, replaced by stylish rebounder Hayden Young. The clash was the first time Hughes had missed a game purely for selection reasons since late 2019, and was just one week after he returned from an 11-week shoulder injury. AUGUST Waroona Demons and SWFL clubs close out season The Waroona Demons finished in a disappointing fifth on the ladder in the Peel Football Netball League — claiming three wins and a draw from 16 games. In the SWFL league, Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault women and Harvey Bulls men failed to make finals. Later, the Lions men and Bulls women would both finish in the top four, but were unable to win a final. SEPTEMBER Best-and-fairest winners announced The SWFL season came to an end, with Harvey Bull’s Braden Fimmano and Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault’s Ty Anderson taking out the league best and fairest of their respective clubs. Brady thunders in to win top award Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault player Brady Hough capped off a stellar season after he claimed the Dave Cameron Medal for the Peel Thunder colts best and fairest. It rounded off a season in which he debuted for Peel’s league side, played in the curtain-raiser for the AFL grand final and averaged more than 22 disposals, five marks and three tackles in his 11 WAFL colts games. OCTOBER Green Caps win a thriller It took until the last ball of the match, but Leschenault claimed their first win of the BDCA first-grade season against Colts. Achievement is one-of-a-kind Many golfers will never record a hole in one, but 27-year-member of the Harvey Golf Club Garry Beacham managed his fourth ace on the 10th hole of his home course in October. Remarkably just 30 minutes later, first-year member Tom McClurg recorded a hole in one on the same hole. NOVEMBER Gesture bowls ‘em over Hardened male cricketers had “tears in their eyes” when Hamza Javed of the Leschenault Cricket Club claimed a wicket in the club’s Last Over program, which was started by NSW-based charity Where There’s A Will. Eagles pick lifelong fan Harvey’s Brady Hough will continue a lifelong love affair with the West Coast Eagles after being snapped up with pick 31 in the AFL Draft. A jubilant Hough said he “wasn’t really expecting” to be drafted before being taken by the Eagles — the club he had supported since he was a boy. DECEMBER Blue stumps honour Ahlia Leschenault Cricket Club’s Tom Buchanan made a heartfelt half-century in honour of his niece who died last year during the first instalment of Ahlia’s Blue Stumps Day at BDCA first grade game against Eaton. Records Cross-ed off Brunswick’s Thomas Cross continued to smash records after breaking an 800m record which stood for five years. Thomas broke the U16 800m state record at Perth Athletics Stadium on Friday, November 26 with a time of1:53.77 — 0.99 seconds faster than the previous time of 1:54.76.