Leigh Harding had some big shoes to fill when he was handed the reins of the Lions Reserves side following Nathan Clarke’s departure earlier this year.

Clarke, a popular member of the coaching staff, was fresh from guiding the Reserves to their first State League Premiership in 12 years, but decided to move on from the intense demands of AFL and pursue other business interests.

So with only little time for preparation, Harding was forced to quickly familiarise himself with his new surrounds, and embark on a NEAFL campaign with a team that carried the extra weight of being reigning Premiers.

It became evident early on that the young Lions certainly weren’t suffering from any sort of ‘Premiership Hangover’, with the team winning its first eight matches – four of which were by 80 points or more.

The Lions went on to taste defeat only twice throughout the season – in Round 11 against Gold Coast, and in Round 18 against the NT Thunder in Darwin – to finish two games and a considerable amount of percentage clear of second-placed Southport at the completion of the home-and-away matches.

The Lions then went on to produce two stirring Finals wins against Aspley – in both the Semi and Grand Final – to claim back-to-back NEAFL titles.

Harding couldn’t have wished for a better end to his first year in the AFL coaching system, and praised his young chargers for their commitment to delivering some more success to the Club.

“I’m a very happy man, and it’s great that we were able to go through and win after finishing first at the end of the regular season,” Harding said.

“I thought it was the two best sides playing, so it was a fitting way to finish.”