Football
23 May, 2024
Improving Eagles look to first win
An improving Warrack Eagles side will be confident they can take their first win of the season on Saturday when they host Nhill at Anzac Park. The Netballers will also be looking to get back on the winners list.
The Eagles were in the game for a large part against Dimboola on Saturday and are showing improvement each week.
Nhill, on the other hand, is sitting seventh on the ladder with only one win, but they have been close in a couple of matches against quality teams.
For Nhill, Daniel Batson is their leading goalscorer this season with 10 goals whilst Jake McQueen and Dylan Ridding have seven apiece.
Eagles coach Matt Walder has plenty of options to handle Daniel Batson, but he may be tempted by the proposition of using Will Batson, to make it a brotherly battle.
"Kyle [Cheney], Jacob [Cheney] are two of the options to handle Dan Batson, but I might look to play Will there," Walder said.
Matthew Walder said they have a full squad and are now starting to build the chemistry.
"The Adelaide recruits are integrating better. It has taken time to make the squad gel and everyone is starting to know each other's games," Walder said.
"The chemistry between the group and understanding of what we need to do consistently over four quarters, by bringing the pressure and intensity is starting to get there and we are slowly beginning to be more potent with the ball in hand."
Four-quarter performance needed from netballers
The Warrack Eagles will be confident of defeating Nhill, but need a four-quarter performance to do so, Eagles coach Leiah McKenzie pointed out.
"We view this as a highly winnable game and we have to start the game out strong and stay composed through that first quarter and keep that intensity going for four quarters and hopefully we can come away with the win," McKenzie said.
Nhill has won two games, whilst the Eagles are one step below them on the ladder with one win.
Isabella Orszulak scored 17 goals last week and looked very dangerous for the Eagles, so may play more in attack because of that game.
Ruby James has scored 57 goals in three games for the Tigers, so is one player the Eagles need to shut down.