The Eagles went into this game with just nine of the 22 who took the premiership on this same ground seven months earlier. Injuries had forced Glenn Garner to select a cosmopolitan team to take the field against a side who should figure in finals football this year. Western Suburbs would most certainly test the eight Eagle youngsters who are yet to experience their 21st birthdays.
Anthony Stubbs was a late withdrawal and into the side came Carlton Scholarship holder Jake Pianta for his first senior game at age 17. Jake was certainly not overawed by the big league and won the plaudits of many. 16-year-old Dominic Killworth continues to impress in his inaugural year with the Eagles having relocated from Tasmania, whilst 18-year-old Daniel Spiteri is something of a veteran now in his third season.
East Coast started superbly with a dream first quarter straight out of the box. Wests were arguably never going to recover from allowing this kind of start and played catch up football for the rest of the day. The 2009 Eagles premiership backline is still reasonably intact with Ben Physick (pictured) allocated the task of keeping key Magpie full forward Matt Eurell quiet. After two successive hauls of eight goals, it was always going to be a big task, but Physick was well up to his minder duties with Eurell only managing two.
Rowan Bilkey was on fire having been given almost a free reign to roam across the defensive zone. His outstanding high marking and attacking football once again gave him players’ Pplayer honours after a similar performance the week before. Despite their best efforts in defence, at three quarter time the Eagles found themselves under all sorts of pressure with Wests drawing to within 15 points after a strong third term.
The perfect weather conditions gave neither side an advantage as the ball was bounced to start the final shoot out. The winner of this match would be the side who could run the game out the best and those young kids rose to the occasion for that Eagle on their chest. With old heads like Jamie Vlatko and Shane Ryan showing the way, East Coast weathered everything that was thrown at them including yet another false fire alarm warning from the stands.
It was a gutsy victory and notwithstanding the injuries throughout the club at the current time, credit must be given to all three senior teams who won their respective matches. In particular Sean Streat’s “Thirds” were perhaps the stars of the weekend when they knocked off the previously undefeated Moorebank on their home ground. In a highly entertaining game, the Eagles won going away by 33 points.
Round five next Saturday finally sees all five teams playing at home on Bruce Purser Reserve in a plethora of football. First game is at 10am and the last at 7pm, with the main Premier League match a twilight fixture against Campbelltown starting at 4.10pm.
East Coast Eagles 6.3 9.3 11.7 13.7 (85)
Western Suburbs 2.1 3.7 8.10 9.13 (67)
Goal kickers: Jamie Vlatko 4, Peter Dugmore 2, Trent Baker 2, Ben Rogers, Kristian Pearson, Shane Ryan, Mike Beardsley, Daniel Spiteri
Best players: Ben Physick, Ryan Bilkey, Jamie Vlatko, Shane Ryan, Daniel Spiteri, Jake Pianta
OTHER SCORES:
Division One
East Coast Eagles 3.5 5.6 11.7 17.12 (114)
Western Suburbs 1.1 2.2 4.2 5.4 (34)
Goal kickers: Michael Sankey 3, Peter Vlatko 3, Jason Duss 3, Luke McLeod 2, Justin Steer 2, Josh Patira, Sean Albert, Josh Shephard , Matty Power
Best players: Josh Shephard, Damian Gatte, Sam Pinchen, Steve Roberts, Josh Patira, Luke McLeod
Division Three
Moorebank 3.3 7.5 7.10 9.14 (67)
East Coast Eagles 5.2 8.5 11.10 15.10 (100)
Goal kickers: Ash Moeller 5, Phil Ragno 3, David Barker 2, Nathan Peters 2, Daniel O’Connor, Matthew Scholz
Best players: James Ford, Ash Moeller, Matthew Scholz, Jared Madden, Matthew Bailey, Nathan Peters
Under 18 Premier Cup
Bye
Under 18 Challenge Cup
Southern Power 3.1 5.4 8.9 15.11 (101)
East Coast Eagles 2.2 2.2 2.3 2.3 (15)
Goal kickers: Taylor Blackstock, Matt Lyons
Best players: Louis Butler, Blake Russell, Daniel Hoy, Taylor Blackstock, Matt Lyons, David Berger
NEXT WEEK’S MATCHES
At long last we have all five teams playing home at Bruce Purser Reserve in round five - all on Saturday May 15.
10.00am - Under 18 Challenge Cup v Moorebank Sports
Midday - U/18 Premier Cup v Campbelltown
2.00pm - Division 3 v Campbelltown
4.10pm - Premier Division v Campbelltown
7.00pm - Division One v UTS
EXTRAVAGANZA
First Grade
Best: Rowan Bilkey owned by Maree Gawley - $210.00
First free: Mark Goodey owned by Black, Blue & Brown - $45.00
Division One
Best: Josh Shephard owned by Maree Gawley - $105.00
First free: Scott Pierce owned by Laima Physick - $45.00
Division Three
Best: James Ford owned by Trev Hangan and Frank Ure - $45.00.
