Football
13 June, 2025
'Cobra' laying goalkicking sting
Kaniva Leeor’s Jacob Eats has entered the Horsham District Football League in style, currently leading the men’s seniors football competition with 38 goals.
The Kaniva forward has been a dominant force through eight rounds, with numerous big-scoring games, registering ten goals against Natimuk, seven against Kalkee, and nine in the side’s most recent win against Pimpinio.
Eats’ impressive form continues on from his stellar 2024 season with Bordertown Football Club in the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara League, during which he topped the league with 66 goals.
The big forward has been a significant factor in Kaniva’s improvement from their 2024 season, according to Jonno Hicks, co-coach of Kaniva Leeor.
“Jacob coming across this year from Bordertown, he’s been a fantastic addition to our group,” Hicks said.
“He signed on as co-coach this year as well, so apart from the presence he brings in games, his leadership, and teaching the rest of the group through training, and what he does off the field, has been fantastic for us.”
“He certainly loves the goal, but his preparation and stuff off the field, always trying to get his body right, and working on his goal-kicking, it shows on the field as well.”
Speaking on his impressive form up forward to start the season, Eats humbly acknowledged that he is reaping the rewards of his teammates’ efforts.
“I'm playing a full-forward, centre-forward role a lot of the time, and I'm lucky enough that everyone's kicking the ball to me,” Eats said.
“I'm getting good deliveries, and a lot of my stuff comes from just finishing off the good teamwork.”
Eats’ strong transition into the Horsham District League should come as no surprise considering the former Bordertown star represented the South Australia Country football team that took on Western Australia’s country team.
But the tall forward has never been a natural scorer, insisting that a motivation to kick goals, backed up by plenty of practice, has been his recipe to success.
“I have been put down back in my whole career, basically,” Eats said.
“When I went to Bordertown, I was a backman, but I wanted to try myself down forward, and I was kicking heaps of points, but I couldn't kick a goal.
“I just had the worst goalkicking, and then I just really practised my goalkicking because I wanted to be a forward, and after every training, I would just have at least 10 shots on goal.
“I'm quite tall and I've got a decent mark on me, so it helps with that, but I'm not a natural goalkicker, it’s mainly just persistence.”
Eats’ goalkicking is matched by an onfield showmanship that includes a trademark celebration.
“He doesn’t mind a double cobra,” coach Jonno Hicks said.
“He likes to get the guns on show for a shot in the paper.”
Eats believes celebrations help bring flair to the game, while also providing energy to both his teammates and the crowd.
“Because of my name, my nickname is ‘Cobra’,” Eats said.
“The double cobra is where you lift your arms and tense your biceps, and that’s my trademark, basically.
“I'm a bit flamboyant in the forward line - I like to celebrate, I like to have fun.
“It's all about getting the team up and about, and the crowd loves a good celebration too.”
A family connection to Kaniva was a major part of Eats and his brother, Lochie, making the move to Bordertown.
“My dad played at Kaniva,” Eats said.
He played for Kaniva back in the early 2000s, and my uncle played for them as well, so I've got a family connection there.”
“I have been approached by Kaniva a few times over the last five years, but then Lochie and I decided to come over here this year."
As well as continuing his goalkicking, Eats is intent on ensuring Kaniva Leeor continue to improve throughout the season.
“We're not really striving to win a certain amount of games,” Eats said.
“What we're striving to do is just get better and better each week, and winning games comes from just getting better.”