Continued improvement important
Ararat Eagles will move into the 2018 Mininera and District Football League season keen to continue improvement after coming off their most successful year in half a decade.
Although the Eagles only managed two wins for the season, they are hoping to pick up from where they left last year and be more competitive under new joint coaches Scott Jackson and George Cooper.
The club’s pre-season has been a little hit and miss, but with the coaching staff able to begin implementing some new strategies for the coming season the lead-up has overall been pretty good.
Local youngster Zac Jenkins is again returning for another season after winning the club’s best and fairest award after a consistent year.
Jenkins was in the best for the Eagles every week and in eight of those games he was best on ground.
He was also the club’s third-highest goal-kicker.
Other key players returning for another season are Tulloch Maxwell and Brent Bulger.
Bulger was the Eagles’ highest goal scorer in 2017, averaging just over two goals a game.
With these core players the club
is confident its new recruits will fit in well and complement each other come game time.
Recruits include James Mcarlein and Harry Ennis from Skipton, and Zac Websdale from Clunes.
And with Chris Dahlstrom returning to the club, the Eagles have been happy with the promise of all these players during practice matches.
However, the club has not come out of the season completely unscathed, losing two of its better players, defender Andrew Beckworth and taller man Nick Bulger.
The Eagles start their 2018 season off against neighbouring team Tatyoon and will have to wait until round three to take on one of the teams they defeated last year in Great Western.
A message from club president Regan Hughes is that the Eagles are looking for players for their under-16.5 football team, with training on Monday and Wednesday nights.
People seeking more information can call 0400 984 638.