Waroona icon breaks league games record
In 2001 a 16 year old colts aged kid called Courtney Lakay made his league debut for Waroona, not having played a single colts game. Twenty four years later for his beloved Demons, he is about to play a competition record 317th league game.
His list of club credits are highlighted by two best and fairest awards in 2017 & 2022, a further three runner up awards, and various other named trophies. He captained the club in 2016/17, and again from 2021 - 2024, he even coached the club in 2022. He played in an extraordinary nine Grand finals in 2008/9/10/11/12/13/15/16/17, gathering four famous flags from 2009 - 2012.
As for the lower levels, Lakay ended up playing thirty colts and two Reserve games. Courtney’s longevity at club level was rewarded in 2016 when he was made a life member.
Excellence at club level saw Lakay in high demand at representative level, where he played roughly twenty seven games for the Peel Landmark/Cavaliers, gathering a further three flags in 2014 B Grade, and 2016 & 17 at A Grade level. He was awarded the Grand finals best player in two of those years in 2014 & 17. He was awarded Country week Allstar honours in 2017 & 22. Lakay also played for the W.A. Country side in 2012 & 17. He was also named W.A Country player of the week back in 2017.
During his decorated career he added a runner up award at the Ross Elliott Medal.
On speaking to Lakay he recalls the great players of the flag era to include the names Thomas, Wright, McKinley, the Court brothers Steele and Ryan, as well as Dean Taylor. Since that dynasty he names teammates in Horner, Foxy Wilson, and Dusty Roberts, as the best he’s played with.
Injuries have played their part as well and Lakay wanted to thank trainers Rod Davis, Dave Blackman, and Guy Mansell for keeping him on the park. When asked for the three best players he had seen in the PFNL, he fairly quickly answered with Tregenza, Arnott, and Blair Bell.
Lakay’s most admired people at Waroona for all the volunteering they do are Deb Clancy and Shane Della Franca. The inspiration for Lakay who is now forty, is at home, he adores his fiancée Kandeice, and his two babes Mable and Eloise.
This Saturday sees Waroona hosting Rockingham, where Lakay will surpass former Demons star Jason Hysens league games record of 316. In the many PFNL interviews I have done over the last five years, the same two surnames keep appearing in the ‘best of’ columns on all players asked lists, Tregenza and Lakay. Rod Tregenza is the leagues leading goalkicker of all time with 1450 majors, and now Lakay it’s 317 league game legend, and he’s not done yet. The respect for Lakay is club and competition wide, and whilst his speed may have slowed his silky skills are still as accurate as ever.
Courtney Lakay is the perfect statesman as the PFNL’s league games record holder, it’s been twenty plus years of skill, brilliance, and fair play, and there’s a reason I refer to him as the King, for now the crown fits.
Written by Greg Barnard
