Back row – Arnold Freeman, Paul Hislop, Declan Hurcum, Noah Ryan, Jake Burns, Alex Freeman, Riley Anderson, Cameron Heidtmann, Jackson Riley and Kerri Pascoe. Front row – Ralph Masae, Rhys Lacey, Aidan Hines, Matt Dunn, Duncan Cameron, Mitchell Cameron, Jack Castle, Clancy Hislop and Adam Galvin.
The Young Lions have claimed their first-ever Pascoe Cup title, overcoming the previously undefeated Lake Albert Sharks with a dominant 5-2 victory in a sensational Grand showdown at McDonald Park. The historic win ends the club’s eleven-year wait for the Wagga first grade championship since entering the competition in 2014, breaking the Sharks’ perfect season—a campaign that included two draws but no losses before the final whistle.
Young Lions Playing Coach Duncan Cameron described the challenge: “They had two draws and won every other game; they didn’t lose all year.”
The high-stakes match saw the tone set early when Lake Albert’s Adil Sulaiman struck in the 7th minute to give the strong favourites the early lead. However, the Lions hit back almost immediately. A free-kick led to Adam Galvin pouncing on the keeper’s save to tap in the rebound in the 15th minute, tying the score. Cameron hailed the goal as “amazing,” noting it got them “back to one all” after an early mistake.
A brilliant run and finish from Mitch Cameron then put Young ahead 2-1 just nine minutes later, shifting the momentum dramatically.
The second half solidified the Lions’ control. Utility player Cameron Heidtmann, a vital substitute, extended the lead to 3-1 in the 52nd minute. Coach Cameron noted that Heidtmann made “their defender look silly,” turning and running with blistering speed. Coach Duncan Cameron then scored his own in the 65th minute, pushing the score to 4-1.
Lake Albert showed fight when Sulaiman netted his second goal in the 76th minute, but any hope of a comeback was extinguished in the final moments as Clancy Hislop, who earned the Man of the Match award, sealed the 5-2 victory with a goal in the 89th minute.
Cameron credited the victory not just to individual brilliance but to tactical execution, particularly noting their strategy to exploit the Sharks’ defensive setup. “We had a bit of a chat about our strengths, our pace being one that makes us very strong out wide,” Cameron said. The tactic was to counter Lake Albert’s “sweeping role at the back” by working the ball “out wide and see if we can get in behind the defence.”
Crucially, the Lions showcased their depth, with five different goal scorers finding the back of the net—none of whom were the team’s leading striker, Rhys Lacey.
Cameron explained Lacey’s unselfish role: “Rhys was great at drawing, able to draw players out, creating space for others to go beyond him… what he does off the ball is almost as important.”
This collective effort, Cameron emphasised, showed it “was never about individuals, it was always about the team.” The victory was the culmination of a tough season marred by injuries, with the team only able to field its strongest lineup in the final three weeks of the competition after battling MCLs and three or four ACLs across the club.
The Lions’ final series was an epic run after finishing fourth, meaning they faced a “do or die” scenario every week, which included eliminating powerhouses like Griffith team Hanwood, who had made seven grand finals in a row.
Cameron singled out several players for their standout performances, including Adam Galvin, the “standout” utility, and goalkeeper Matthew Dunn, who stepped up from reserve grade for the entire finals series after the main keeper was injured, proving his class on the weekend.
The coach also revealed the team’s professional preparation, using a ‘VO’ camera that follows the ball for a key video session before the final, ensuring they were prepared for the Sharks’ “star players.”
Speaking after the thrilling win, Cameron reflected that “everyone’s been telling me that it was such a good game to watch and one of the best grand finals they’ve seen in a long time.”
The achievement is particularly meaningful given the competition continues to grow in strength, attracting three Griffith teams this year, a challenge Cameron expects to continue next season.
“It’s an amazing achievement,” he concluded. “The support throughout the town from businesses, families and everyone in between. It means a lot to all of us who are involved with the Club.”
– Tully Potts
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