Sturt premiership stars face off in SANFL grand final
AFTER tasting premiership glory with Sturt last year, Kory Beard, Zane Kirkwood and Jarrod Lienert will be rivals when the Double Blues take on Port Adelaide in the SANFL grand final.
KORY Beard, Zane Kirkwood and Jarrod Lienert entrenched themselves as Sturt heroes on this day last year when they had significant roles in the club claiming the SANFL flag.
For Beard and Kirkwood, the grand final triumph over Woodville-West Torrens in the grand final fully vindicated their decision to switch allegiance from Port Adelaide to the Double Blues in 2014 when the Magpies became the Power reserves.
Lienert was a product of the junior programs at Unley and the son of former Double Blues ruckman Brett Lienert, who was noted for his wholehearted commitment to the Sturt jumper.
There will be more premiership glory today, just not for all three. Beard and Kirkwood are still vital cogs in the Double Blues machine, while Leinert has travelled the opposite direction to that pair to now be based at Alberton. Drafted as a mature age rookie after the grand final triumph, Lienert was upgraded to the Power senior list late in the season.
Beard admits it had been difficult to leave Port, having been with the club for five years after being recruited from Eyre Peninsula. But now, it is all about the Double Blues.
“It made it easier going to Sturt when Zane and James Watts went there as well,” Beard said. “The club has been unreal and I’ve enjoyed every moment of it.
“We never played finals before coming to Sturt and now we are in another grand final.”
Not only has Kirkwood captained the Double Blues to the flag, he has earned two Magarey Medals with the club.
Lienert has fully embraced Port and is hopeful of a lengthy career at Alberton. So who will Brett be supporting?
“Dad said he will be cheering for me and a good game,” Jarrod said. “He is on the Magpies as well I think.
“I actually asked him yesterday (Friday), it wasn’t the quickest answer I have got out of him. But it’s all good.”