EAGLES SET TO SOAR AGAIN
BEFORE their clash with SouthEast rival Dodges Ferry on Saturday, which will be streamed exclusively by the Mercury, Sorell star Jeremiah Perkins says he’s confident the Eagles aren’t far away from flying high as the club continues its rebuild from cellar dweller to finals contender.
After a number of down years, the Eagles are hellbent on returning to finals action and, after recruiting a number of talented players over the past two summers, are starting to build a list capable of making some noise in the SFL.
But despite their talented young list, the Eagles are yet to click into gear in 2022 to hold a record of just two wins from their first five matches.
Before the home game against the Sharks (4-1) on Saturday, Perkins said it would take time for the Eagles to gel with a high number of new faces, but he was bullish about the future.
“We have a lot of new kids on the block this year but we have some players that have come from TSL level which has brought in a lot of experience and we are on the right path, that’s for sure,” the athletic midfielder said.
“I think once we get a few more games into the younger blokes, then things will definitely be on the up for Sorell.”
The former Lauderdale player also said the young side was showing glimpses of what it could become but that showing more consistency each week would be key to climbing the SFL hierarchy.
“I think it’s one quarter of footy each game that’s really letting us down,’’ he said.
“So, we are trying to have a real focus on putting that four-quarter effort in each game and not letting one quarter let us down.”
Despite a poor track record against its Dodges Ferry opponent, Perkins was hopeful the Eagles could take down the tough Sharks on Saturday.
“They’ve obviously had the wood over us in recent times but we are looking forward to hopefully playing four quarters of good football and getting the win on Saturday,’’ he said.
“Beating them would be awesome because we haven’t done it for a long time so hopefully this year we can get it done.”
As well as stopping the Sharks monster full-forward Cambell Hooker, Perkins said a key to an Eagles win would be to limit the impact of the Sharks’ midfield bulls.
“They’ve got a strong midfield and they’re a big-bodied midfield with (Jono) Bullock and Ben Richmond and guys like that so we’ve definitely got our work cut out for us.”
Perkins said Sorell would be boosted by midfield duo Nic Baker and Clint Riley. The Eagles and Sharks do battle at 2pm at Pembroke Park.