Checkside Chats with Josh Hone and Alex Holt

By ZAC MILBANK

They are at opposite ends of their Hostplus SANFL League careers but Sturt’s Josh Hone and Alex Holt both revelled in the unbridled joy of playing in their club’s 16th premiership.

Veteran Hone earned his third premiership medallion after being a part of the club’s back-to-back success of 2016 and 2017 with coach Marty Mattner.

Rookie Holt earned his first premiership medallion after playing just 15 League games, retaining his place in the Double Blues’ best 22 after making his debut in Round 6.

For Hone, it was sweet redemption after playing in the club’s 2023 Grand Final loss and the straight sets exit of 2024.

And after bagging a team-high four majors in the title-decider, he put to bed any of the cheeky niggles from teammates which existed after kicking 0.5 against the Bays two years earlier.

Confirming he is set to play on in 2026, the 29-year-old is hungry to chase a fourth medallion after being energised by the youthful playing group at Unley.

At the other end of the journey, Holt is the perfect representation of that youth movement as he relished his role rotating off half-back and a wing.

It took the 20-year-old as many as 38 Reserves games to finally break into the League line-up, illustrating his persistence and willingness to display great patience along with several of his teammates at Oxford Terrace.

Racking up 21 disposals and a memorable goal near the boundary line on Grand Final day, Holt is refusing to give up on his dream of playing at elite level.