Northampton premiership breaks 19-year drought with a drop of joy amid one of growers’ driest seasons

For the community of Northampton, football is much more than a game and a premiership is so much more than a flag.

After a turbulent few years since cyclone Seroja tore through leaving a trail of destruction that is still being repaired, the region is now in the middle of one of its least fruitful growing seasons thanks to an absence of rain.

But the local Rams returning from the grand final clutching the GNFL cup was a timely reminder of the power of community.

It’s Northampton’s first premiership in 19 years. To put that into perspective, in 2004 when the Rams last won, champions Josh Kennedy and Harry Taylor were 17 and 18 still dreaming of an AFL career, current captain Braden Jupp and duel JJ Clune medallist Flynn Dillon were five-year-olds probably starting out in Auskick.

The town has been in celebration mode since Saturday and you can hear the smile in the voice of club president Damian Harris through the phone.

“I’m ecstatic. The goodwill and messages of support and congratulations from the everyone has been just amazing. I’m just some farmer 50km north, and I’m going . . .holy hell,” he said.

Farming from Binnu, Mr Harris goes on to thank everyone who has put an ounce of themselves in to the club since 2004.

“Every president, every coach, player, water boy. Every mum that loses towels or washes jumpers” he said.

Mr Harris has led the club for the past four years. After becoming involved as a junior, he came back to the club with his son Sam, who lives with autism, as an activity to keep them busy, but their involvement in the club quickly grew.

Mr Harris, or “Damo”, and Sam are the wind in the sails of the club, both quick to dish out a sincere pat on the back, or Sam’s signature handshake.

“I just want to make people love country footy. And this is just what it’s about. Watching everyone come together to celebrate this,” he said.

“We’ve had 13mm (of rain) in August, and nothing yet in September,” said Mr Harris, who said the win was a timely morale booster, lifting the spirits of the tight-knit community.

Northampton Shire president and local grower Liz Sudlow said she had “seen a few grand finals” in her time, but said watching the 2023 team bring it home for the club’s seventh flag in 62 years was something special.

“It’s heartwarming to see the way everyone has responded to it. It just shows what a strong community we are, and that’s an asset in itself,” she said.

Cr Sudlow said the footy factory had produced its fair share of AFL players, and in exchange for this had accepted flags were not easy to come by.

“Josh and Harry coming back to the club. It’s great to see, but it’s also amazing to see how many other people and players have made this happen,” she said.

Cr Sudlow said the evening of the grand final was spectacular to witness, with palpable shared excitement coming from proud mums and dads filling the clubhouse, as well as the 2004 premiership team rallying for their now-successors.

The 2004 league team made a pointed effort to support the new crop, with a special moment shared between 2004/23 premiership father-son duo, Simon and Callum Teakle.

Before the 2004 premiership win, Northampton took home three consecutive flags in 1977, 1978 and 1979, and the club is hoping history will repeat itself.