Football
18 April, 2026
Eagles ready to battle Warriors
After a brilliant start to the season, defeating last season's premiers in Ararat, Stawell will this week travel to Anzac Park to play Warrack.
The Warriors are fresh off a week-long break, after their clash was scheduled for the first week of the season, while all other matches in the round were held last Saturday.
It was an impressive performance Stawell delivered first up, leading Ararat at every interval to eventually record the five-point win, 11.20 86 to 12.9 81.
The Eagles clashed with the Horsham Saints in their first round and were defeated by more than 40 points.
It took a quarter for the visitors at Coughlin Park to find the big sticks, as they trailed by 21 points after the first quarter, and that exact margin at the big break as well.
They found the goals a few more times after half-time and went into the final quarter down by 25 points, before the Horsham side better utilised the final quarter to finish 11.16 82 to 6.3 39.
Game two for the Eagles doesn't get any easier this week, with coach Kyle George admitting he watched the Ararat versus Stawell game.
He agreed the James Sullivan and Perry Meka-led side were impressive in their first game of the season.
"I wouldn't think too much would be different this week for Stawell," admitted George.
"They will be fresh after a week off."
George said that, to have the best chance of getting the four points this week, his side would need to contain a couple of players.
"(Thomas) Eckel and (Paul) Summers," he said.
"But they have depth, so we need to be able to stop the second-tier players they have."
As for any particular match-ups fans should keep an eye on, George said the contest will be exciting in the ruck.
"Stawell are strong in this position," he admitted.
But at the end of the day, the Eagles have to focus on their own match, and George said that includes ensuring contributions are even all over the ground.
"We need to do the basics well, and make sure our effort and pressure are there," he said.