Harsh opposition to figurehead (5)

I believe the answer is:

stern

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'harsh' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

I don't understand the remainder of the clue.

(Other definitions for stern that I've seen before include "Strict; severe" , "having a forbidding appearance" , "Severe part of the ship?" , "Inflexible; back" , "Tail of a beagle" .)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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