Football
3 June, 2025
Eagles bank first win
The Eagles banked their first win for the season on Saturday, much to the relief of their coach Matt Walder.
The Eagles banked their first win for the season on Saturday, much to the relief of their coach Matt Walder.
The win came on the day Cooper Preston and Dane George made their debut for seniors, both having progressed from baby Eagles through the ranks.
Final scores were the Demons 10.9 (69) defeated by the Eagles 10.12 (72).
Getting off to a good start hasn't been a problem for the Eagles all season – they've led the Thunder by a goal in round two, the Horsham Saints by 24 points at the end of the first quarter in round five and Nhill by 13 points at the end of the first quarter in round six.
But they haven't been able to put together a four-quarter performance.
Walder said his side were three and a half goals up at one stage in the first quarter, but the Horsham side were able to draw back a bit into the game by the end of the quarter.
"But again, we were able to get off to a good start and set up that foundation," he reflected.
By half-time there was only one point separating the teams – the Eagles with the lead, narrowly.
But heading into the final quarter that difference was eight points.
"That quarter, the third, has been a problem but I think the difference this week was learning," Walder said.
"The players are starting to understand what they need to do to get past the challenging times of the game and being stronger for longer.
"But Horsham are certainly a spirited team, they wouldn't go away, and it certainly went down to the wire."
It was a tense few final minutes for the coach of the Eagles.
"They ran the full ground, kicked a goal, to get it back to three points, and that's when the siren went, about five seconds after the ball went to the middle," Walder said.
"It was so close to being signed, sealed, and delivered with about a minute to go, to nah, she's still game on, so it was tense."
Walder said he hoped the win would give his side some belief that they had what it took to get the win.
"We've been working hard to get to a point to have that success on a Saturday and walk away with the four points so it's reward for effort, but the boys know they have got it in them, it's just a matter of winning – and winning a close one too," he said.
While the Demons were led by Benjamin Janetzki, Tyler Blake and Bronte Campbell, it was Sam Hanna, Charlie Wilson and Machok Garang who were among the best on ground for the Eagles.
Walder said Tim McCorrmick was also understated in the back half, as well as Matt Penny in defence.
Benjamin Janetzki, Jasper Gunn and Lachlan Hobbs all contributed a couple of goals for Dimboola, while Charlie Wilson booted five majors for Warrack.
Although they didn't get the win, the Demons still celebrated the 100th club game of Sam Bigham.
Bigham, a 2018 premiership player, has been with the Horsham side since juniors.