Instead, he’ll be watching the Lions and Cats in their big dance on TV, surrounded by Magpies- and Blues-supporting family members, who will mostly temporarily jump on the Cats’ bandwagon for the day to balance out Harley’s mad passion for his northern team.
Hailing from Melbourne, Harley wasn’t always a Brisbane fan.
“He was born a Collingwood fan,” his mum, Anne Jennings, a Carlton supporter said, before adding, “Unfortunately”.
It was Harley’s godfather who led him to love the Lions when he was seven years old, and his loyalty hasn’t wavered since.
Now 18 and working, he said he’s not rostered on Saturday because he’s still recovering from last week’s operation, but joked that his boss would know better than to put him on a shift during a Brisbane grand final anyway.
Asked if anyone would cheer with him each time a maroon, gold and blue jersey-clad player kicked the ball through the sticks, he answered first with one who definitely woouldn’t.
“My sister (who barracks and works for Collingwood Football Club) won’t, because we knocked Collingwood out,” he said.
But Harley won’t be left without an ally to celebrate another victory for the reigning premiers should they get over the line again this year.
“I will go for Brisbane on the day,” Anne said.
And if his boys make it to the final stage again next season, Harley hopes to be back there in person to watch, fighting fit and cheering even louder with his fortified jaw.
