The East Coast Eagles football club has created history in season 2008, where for the first time ever in its short history all three grades will play finals. It is great achievement by all coaches and players and is a reward for all the hard work of many people from the Eagles club.
Even though this is a great achievement, all teams would like to make that history greater by taking out their respective competitions. By making the finals all three teams have given themselves that opportunity and now it is up to every player to take the opportunity and run with it.
It would be history in the making for the seniors if they could achieve what no other Eagles team has been able to do and that is winning a senior premiership.
After a comfortable 90-point win 20.17 (137) to 5.17 (47) against Western Suburbs on the weekend the Eagles will now look forward to the challenge of taking on last year's premiers North Shore in the elimination final. The Eagles know that to continue the dream they must now play at a new level and work as hard as they have worked all season.
Damien Bowles was a driving force on the weekend and he will be needed to set up the play against the Bombers as he did on Saturday. Adam Floyd played his best game for the season and will need to take that form into the final series. Shane Ryan bounced back with an impressive display. Ryan Smyth also returned to good form with four goals and a good all round performance.
With a few players due back from injury for the finals it is a pleasant headache for Coach Glenn Garner to have, even though some players will be unlucky to miss out.
It is a simple equation for the seniors for the rest of the year. Win and you keep on the path on the road to glory, lose and the season is over.
The reserve grade team in search of a hat-trick of premierships have given themselves the perfect finish to the season by finishing minor premiers. After beating the Magpies by 71 points they needed Pennant Hills to beat UNSW/ES and that also occurred.
The reserves have continued to improve with every game over the last five to six weeks and they will go into the final series full of confidence knowing that if they play to their potential they will go close again.
Damian Gatte, Cory Durie and Ryan Fitton lead the way in a 14.20 (104) to 5.3 (33) victory.
The Premier Cup team went into a game wanting a big victory because they started the day equal third with Campbelltown but behind on percentage. The Eagles after a good start could not finish the game off and only won by six points, 9.8 (62) to 9.2 (56). However news filtered through that Campbelltown had lost and third place and the double chance had been secured. The team has improved dramatically after just missing out on finals last year.
Trent Stubbs and Martin Karafilis led the way for the Premier cup team on the weekend.
They look forward to taking on Pennant Hills on Saturday and making the most of the opportunity that they have worked hard to achieve.
The Challenge Cup team finished on a high and it was a great way to send out co-coaches in Tim and Jon Lee. Tim and Jon have been great in the development of this team over the last two years and it was a fitting reward for everything they have given to the club.
The young Eagles defeated Pennant Hills by 10.11 (71) to 8.11 (59).
Tom Roberts and David Elliott gave their all in the last game for the season. The club looks forward to even more improvement in this group next year.
So the first week of the finals look this way for the Eagles.
Seniors
Sunday August 31
2.30pm at Henson Park
Elimination Final
East Coast v North Shore
Reserves
First week of finals off.
Under 18
Saturday August 30
9.45am at Henson Park
Qualifying Final
East Coast v Pennant Hills
