Football
15 July, 2025
Brim brings break in drought for Eagles
The Eagles returned to Brim Recreation Reserve on Saturday to line up against Minyip Murtoa in round 12 of the Wimmera Football Netball League.
It's the first time they have played there in a couple of years, and it proved to be successful for the side, as they got their second win for the season, defeating the Burras 11.7 (73) to 6.10 (46).
The Eagles had a good start, leading by nine points at the end of the first quarter, and were up by 22 at half-time.
The period after half time has proved to be the Achilles' heel for the Eagles this season, as coach Matt Walder has admitted, and although they were outscored 16 points to 19 on Saturday, they still held a 19-point lead going into the last quarter.
Fitness has never been an issue for the side from Warrack, and they secured the victory in the last quarter by booting four goals to Minyip Murtoa's 2.4 to bank a 27-point win.
Ben and Sam Hanna booted two majors each for Warrack, along with Kobe Macgregor who also added a couple of goals to the tally, while Charlie Penny and Sam Hayden were among the best players for the winners.
For the Burra's, Oscar Gawith was the only multiple goal scorer, booting two, while Josh Roman and Kade Petering were the best players for their side.
Walder said it was the first time for the year his side went into half-time with a lead that was substantive.
"We were able to hold them out and win the game, not comfortably, but it wasn't without a challenge in the last quarter," reflected Walder.
"They had the footy inside their 50 the first six, seven minutes of the last quarter, and then we were able to kick a goal, have that answer, which is good because we haven't been able to do that all year."
Walder said from where they had been this season to where they were now, the side had to take it as development and progress.
"That we have learnt from our early-season losses," he said.
"But it was more a complete performance, it was the fact we stood up for longer periods of the game, we didn't have that lull, and that was the difference.
"And look what happens: we get to sing the song."
Walder said he was happy with the ability to compete from his side and that the Eagles were able to match Minyip Murtoa in contested footy.
"They were a bigger-bodied and taller team but we were able to probably halve the contest and then we were able to move the ball probably the best we have for the year," he said.
"It was a big challenge for the boys to stand up physically and take the ball away from them and use our legs and that was the first time we were able to do that; take away from their strengths and play to ours."
Also pleasing for the side was they had eight individual goal scorers: a change from the fact the team had been reliant on just a couple of goal scorers previously this season.
"We've tweaked things a bit and put a bit more ownership and responsibility on others to stand up," Walder said.
The coach gave the nod to Charlie Penny in the middle, Sam Hanna in the forward line and middle and backman Sam Hayden in terms of good performances.
"Machok Garang was also terrific, but it was the first time I have looked at the end of the game and the better players didn't stand out," Walder said.
"Players did their part throughout the course of the game and the lesser lights, the second tier, stood up so as much as I just said those players were good for us, they weren't standouts above anyone else because everyone was involved in the win."