![SILVER SERVICE: Harrison Macreadie and Josh SInge at work at the Henty Machinery Field Days on Tuesday. Picture: JAMES WILTSHIRE SILVER SERVICE: Harrison Macreadie and Josh SInge at work at the Henty Machinery Field Days on Tuesday. Picture: JAMES WILTSHIRE](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/PhHnA5GT9TJUUFksUAkH55/3b0a4ce3-f4fa-4879-ab29-5e66a51b4512.jpg/r0_456_4557_2623_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
HE’S 17 and in his second year of senior football.
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But that hasn’t stopped Henty coach Josh Gaynor from handing young Swampie Harrison Macreadie some of the biggest jobs in the Hume league this season.
Since returning from a trip to New Zealand with the AFL Academy and playing for the NSW/ACT Rams, Macreadie has been a tower of strength in defence.
Some of his opponents include CDHBU’s Luke Cowan, Howlong’s Josh Dicketts and Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock’s Dean Murphy and Joel Hartley.
Hartley shapes as his likely opponent in Saturday’s premiership decider at Walbundrie.
“We put a lot on his young shoulders but he always answers the challenge and we are never afraid to back him in,” Gaynor said.
“He’s cool under pressure and obviously has a bright future.
“He’s been really good for us.”
Macreadie’s approach is simple but effective.
“I just try and back myself and hope it goes my way,” the Billabong High School student said.
“That’s all you can do.”
The Macreadie name is no stranger to Henty’s defence after his father, Dale, etched out a fine career for the Swampies.
He played more than 350 club matches which included a senior best and fairest in the late 1980s.
Henty had four schoolboys – Macreadie, Josh Singe, Andrew Yates and Tyson Muller – in last weekend’s preliminary final side.
“We are lucky to have some good young players coming through,” Gaynor said.
“There are some others in the reserves as well.”
Macreadie is expecting another tight tussle between Henty and Brocklesby-Burrumbuttock.
They played a draw in round 15 before the Saints won after the siren in the semi-finals courtesy of a Robbie Norris goal.
The clubs have lost only 11 matches each in the past three seasons.
“It should be pretty close again,” Harrison said.
“There probably won’t be a lot in it.”
Henty will play off in the senior, reserve and under-14 grand finals on Saturday.