SA Footy

First – It was fantastic to see such a big roll up of Eagles fans back at the club on Sunday night after the prelim final. The support of the members was really appreciated by the playing and coaching group.

Thank you to all who attended the game on Sunday and the giant hands we gave away looked great all round the ground – hope you bring them out to the games next year.

Haven’t done an update re membership numbers just yet – other issues seemed to get in the way yesterday at Mad Monday! No matter what though we have a new membership record – of which all of us who support the Eagles can be proud.

As was stated on Sunday night at presentations we are disappointed not to be playing in the last game of the season as is our desire and expectation every season. As a club we demand success and don’t accept a loss. We expect to win so yes we are disappointed re Sunday’s loss but must acknowledge that North Adelaide were the better team and deserved their success.

We expect to finish the minor round in the top 3 and expect to be successful in finals – 2007 partly successful so we know where we stand and that we need to raise our standard in 2008 to get back to being a Grand Finalist and SANFL Premier.
As part of that process yesterday I attended discussions where the dates and plans for preseason have been confirmed and we are looking to 2008 as of now!

Everyone at the Eagles is very proud of our players’ efforts this year – they have been totally committed to the club and have given their all – at the end of the game on Sunday they didn’t have anything left in the tank – and you can’t ask for more. Given our inconsistent start and injuries the efforts of all at the club have been fantastic and to finish 3rd (bronze medal!) is probably a fair assessment of where we were in 2007. Bring on 2008 as 3rd isn’t where we belong; we expect to be number one!

Good luck to the 6 teams competing in the Grand finals on Sunday – you all deserve to be there - congratulations. A big day of SANFL footy from 9am with U19s, Reserves and League – lets hope we get a huge crowd – at least this year I can go along in a relaxed state as a neutral observer.

There is still much happening at the club over the next few weeks including:
Junior members BBQ with the players. Junior Members should have also received their invitation to their free BBQ with the players. If not please call the club to get yours.
Club Golf Day at Grange Golf Club – Friday 12th October.
Winery Tour 24th October
Wine Night – November 2nd.
Contact the club for bookings and details

AWARD NIGHTS
U17 & U19 Presentation Night – Friday 12th October.
Club Champion Awards – Friday October 19th.
Bookings essential – ring the club to book your spot.

Every Thursday night at the Eagles Club financial members are in the draw to win CASH (must be present to claim). Make sure you come down to the Club on Thursday night for your chance to win. Also coming soon to the Woodville Oval clubrooms 8 Ball/Pool Competitions and Saturday Poker games – only Saturday venue around – check out with Nathan at the club for details.

It is worth checking out the changes at our Port Road Bistro too – now with Keno and SA Lotteries facilities with an upgrade to the foyer bar area – looks great with more facilities for visitors – a great place for a drink a meal and some gaming fun but please gamble responsibly.

MAD MONDAY REPORT
All went well and whilst much can’t be reported I am able to state the mud wrestling championships were something to see! Somehow I don’t remember much after that!!

Who won the Mud wrestling?

thanks cd for that update
when the wash settles down , ron fuller & co will have to sip through and analyse what is needed to be # 1 next yr
with every club expected to improve even further next yr , nothing is guaranteed anymore , - ron will have to leave no stone unturned with aggressive selective recruiting in deficient areas , continualy promoting promosing juniors , and freshining the squad with quality personal to make sure that we are in the mix again at the business end of yr

good luck in yure endeavors , thanks for another great yr / it wasnt to be , but lets hope we put everthing in place ready for a crack at # 1 next yr , just like central did after last yr GF loss

cheers

Think the future is good haveing blooded so many new players over the last two years, but if Passa, Inkster and Grocke all go and aren't replaced, then next year may be a rebuilding year, a la 2002.

The wrestling was a little difficult to judge given at times was 2 onto one! Points decision I reckon to a nameless fisherman.

I hope there was chicks involved with the mud wrestling, otherwise WTF?

While it is hard to except third spot in reality this year third spot was the correct position for my EAGLES to finish in 2007.
And in some respects after the season the EAGLES had perhaps third is higher than the club should have finished but luck played apart in that .
The EAGLES need to recruit some more backmen and perhaps some more players with leg speed in 2008 .
Perhaps us fans may get lucky and see the return of EX eagles players like Skipworth and some of our older delisted players from the AFL .

Season 2007 is over bring on 2008 I can't wait

Hopefully with this post and Aerie's excellent post Eagles fans can put season in perspective while we get over not being part of the final week!

Need to get as many posts in as i can as i'll need to change signature after Sunday!

A great credit to the Eagles to have finished in the top three eight of the last nine years. Out of the grand finalists of this millennium, only Central and the Eagles have been consistent. Both Sturt and West have had a number of wayward years. Well done, Eagles!

from Ron Fuller's email to members - full text on club website

A friend told me that you could consider a defeat honourable when you have exhausted all of your resources. With that in mind it is fair to say we didn’t have much left in Sunday’s Preliminary Final against North Adelaide. We did play 21 fit players and we did have many options to go through the midfield to give us the run required but it just wasn’t enough. We exercised all of those options, and more, but North Adelaide were too good for us when it mattered.



Another friend asked me if I would have taken third at the half way mark of the season when we had just lost to Central District and were sitting seventh. There is no doubt that third was a long way off where we were at that time, but to be in a Preliminary Final and to have worked ourselves into a 27 point lead I can’t help but think was an opportunity lost.