The East Coast Eagles now know who they will be playing in next week’s AFL Sydney Grand Final. A large contingent of Eagles fans watched a torrid battle between Balmain and Sydney Uni as they fought for the right to meet the reigning premiers next Saturday at Blacktown Olympic Park.
After four lead changes in the last quarter, Balmain ran out victors by three points and next week’s game marks the Dockers’ fourth consecutive finals match in four weeks. The Eagles, on the other hand, will play just their second in that same time frame, having beaten Balmain in the second semi-final two weeks ago down in Wollongong.
Next Saturday will be a defining day in East Coast’s short history as the U/18 Premier Cup Colts also compete in the grand final when they take on St Ignatius, Riverview.
Coach Peter Steer has his players primed for victory as they have been the dominant team in the 2011 competition, but grand finals are all about form on the day and Steer will be taking nothing for granted. The Eagles won the U/18 Premiership in their inaugural year of 2000 and have been runners-up twice since then. Victory in 2011 will be sweet indeed for this talented team of youngsters.
Following this clash, the main game will get underway and the expected large crowd should see a highly competitive match as two talented sides fight for the right to hold the Bill Hart Cup aloft at the end of the day. Coach Glenn Garner and captain Jon Vlatko have previously had the honour of doing so in 2009 and 2010, and to raise it again for the third consecutive year would be a phenomenal achievement indeed before the club enters the new NEAFL competition in 2012.
Injuries are not a concern for the Eagles and Garner has a full list to choose from for his final 22 to take the field. Individual match-ups against the Dockers will be finalised during the week after an extensive analysis of Balmain players during yesterday’s preliminary final. The wide expanses of the prestigious ground at Blacktown, where the Eagles have enjoyed great success since it was built to house the GSW Giants, will provide a wonderful spectacle for the fans.
Admission is just $10 to see all four grand finals on Saturday, September 17, the first of which commences at 8.45am for the Division Three title between UNSW/ES and Sydney Uni. The U/18 Eagles’ match starts at 11.15am, with the Division One Premiership to be decided at 1.10pm between Manly Warringah and Southern Power.
At 3.30pm the East Coast Eagles commence their attempt to win their third consecutive senior AFL Sydney premiership against the Balmain Dockers.
For West Coast supporters who may be interested in watching East Coast grand finals live this Saturday, all the action will be streamed live at www.digitalsports.com.au. Why not get revved up with Eagle fever before the West Coast v Carlton game later that evening.
