In a storied history that stretches back more than a century, Laharum Football Netball Club’s greatest achievement might have come on Saturday.

Only three years removed from a winless wooden-spoon season and a near merger with Taylors Lake, the Demons completed a remarkable turnaround by winning their 11th senior premiership, beating Noradjuha-Quantong 9.8 (62) to 7.8 (50) in front of a huge crowd at Horsham City Oval.

Laharum won not with flashy football, but with traits that have become hallmarks of their game in the past three years – relentless defensive pressure and an appetite for the contest.

They required every bit of that combativeness against an opposition desperate to win its first-ever senior football premiership following runner-up finishes in 2024 and 2025.

Laharum’s intent was clear early, with the Demons dominating field position and recording the game’s first nine inside-50s.

Backman Todd Heynen was a brick wall across the centre of the ground, recording four intercept possessions in the first seven minutes to turn defence into attack for Laharum.

But while spearhead Jack Fenner set a tone by shrugging off opponent Dyson Parish for a pair of strong marks, his shots at goal were wayward.

Despite the Demons’ dominance they could muster only four behinds, and the Bombers had too much talent to keep suppressed.

Noradjuha-Quantong full-forward Judah Hobbs took a strong leading mark to kick the game’s first goal, and freshly minted Dellar medallist Declan Phyland produced some magic two minutes later with a snap from deep in the pocket to send his side nine points ahead.

The Demons refused to panic however, with half-forward Josh Hutchinson taking a pack mark and hitting Fenner with a pinpoint pass to get the league-leading goal-kicker on the board.

Laharum suffered a blow before quarter time when Brodie Mines limped from the ground with a calf injury, leaving them a rotation short on a warm, sunny day.

In the second term Fenner continued to exploit his match-up against Parish, setting up Heath MacInnes for an easy goal, while veteran Phil Butsch took advantage from a free kick to slot another and send Laharum ahead 22-13.

Shannon Argall was ascendent both on the ball, where he consistently beat one of the league’s best ruckmen in Jack Vague, and behind the play, taking numerous relieving marks.

Hutchinson also continued to work his way into the game, while Daniel Easson and Demon coach Robbie Miller thrived in the tight, contested conditions.

With little space for either team to move the ball freely, rare moments of outside run became important, and Jarrod Kemp and Monty Wynne provided the necessary spark for their team.

Phyland also continued to produce moments of brilliance for the Bombers, nailing a goal on the run from outside 50, while Shelley moved onto Fenner in an effort to quell the spearhead, who had an errant 1.4 in the first half.

While Laharum seemingly dominated the opening half, only three points separated the sides at the long break.

Miller implored his charges to stick to their system, while Noradjuha-Quantong coach Damian Cameron asked for a lift from some of his stars who had been held quiet – among them James Hallett, Lachlan Phyland and Lee Dale.

With the margin still one straight kick 17 minutes into the third term, the Bombers squandered a golden opportunity when Riley Dunlop came streaming off half-back.

Dunlop pinpointed James Gregg in the middle and Gregg chipped to captain Wade Francis alone at half-forward. Francis handballed over the top to Phyland, who handballed again to Brock Orval unmarked near goal, but Orval slammed his shot into the post at point-blank range.

Hutchinson made the Bombers pay, first with a beautiful goal on the run from the boundary and then with a leading mark and conversion a minute later to send Laharum up by 19 points in the blink of an eye.

With their backs against the wall, the Bombers sent Shelley forward and he responded, getting on the end of a pass from Cameron to draw the margin back.

But Hutchinson found Fenner again in the shadow of three-quarter time, and the full-forward converted to put Noradjuha-Quantong on its knees.

Miller asked for one more quarter of all-out effort from his charges at the final change, promising them it would be worth it.

The Bombers were far from finished however, with Shelley slotting another goal to narrow the gap to two straight kicks.

Fenner again extended the lead after marking on the goal line, but Francis responded with a captain’s goal to keep his side alive.

Early in time-on Shelley marked again with a chance to cut the margin to six points, but his kick drifted just left of the goal post for a behind.

Fittingly, the final score of the day was a Fenner behind, giving him 3.6 for the afternoon.

While the Bombers continued to press until the final siren, their lack of clean ball skills – often induced by Laharum’s pressure – hampered their efforts.

Miller was elated despite being sent from the ground with a head-knock eight minutes from full-time.

He said his side had achieved exactly what he asked of it.

“It probably wasn’t the most pretty football to watch as a spectator, but most grand finals are built on pressure and that’s what we tried to bring – just pressure, pressure, pressure,” he said.

“We’ve worked hard on our game plan over the last three or so years, particularly with our structure and our leading patterns.”

Miller praised Hutchinson, who was named the game’s best player, but said the medal could have gone to any number of contributors.

“I think this year the difference between the previous years was that he’s actually taken that step in wanting to put the work in,” Miller said.

“He’s always had that talent, but I think he’s realised how to tap it through sheer workrate at training. He’s been massive for us all year, not just today.

“But the strength of this side is that we don’t want anyone to put the Superman cape on and carry us.

“We rely heavily on contribution all over the ground and everyone playing their role, and I think if we execute that, we win premierships.”

Miller also paid tribute to Noradjuha-Quantong, which remains in search of a breakthrough senior premiership.

“They never laid down. You knew what it meant to them today as well, so I do feel for them, trust me,” he said.

A shattered Cameron, who will step down as the Bombers’ coach, lamented his team’s missed opportunities.

“It’s  disappointing because we played into what Laharam do well,” he said.

“We kicked the ball long, they marked the footy; we tried to take on the tackles, they’re a good pressure team.

“It’s so frustrating. It wasn’t a big margin and we didn’t get much right again. I think if we play our best game we win that game, and we haven’t, so that’s the difference.”

Despite the loss, Cameron said the Bombers were well placed to continue challenging for an elusive flag.

“Previously at my home club Tatyoon I had a guy tell me success is based on enjoyment,” he said.

“We’re making grand finals and we’re enjoying ourselves, so it is a successful time for the club.

“It’s just that if we miss this window without winning one, does anyone remember these times? We’ll go back to the drawing board and we will chase that silverware next year.”

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