MALLEE EAGLES
PROFILE
THE Mallee Eagles enter this season as the great unknown, with several star recruits and a change in leadership set to catapult them up the ladder.
After finishing last season with just four wins, there is an air of expectation surrounding the Eagles that this year will see a far more competitive outfit take to the field, with the bulk of last year’s playing list having re-committed giving cause for hope.
While Angus McKenzie, Brandon Gardiner and Andrew McDonald won’t return, the new recruits far outweigh their departures, with Darcy Hourigan, Jayden Post, Troy Anderson and Jordan Robins all expected to have a major impact on the Central Murray. Hourigan could well be the biggest addition, with the gun key forward likely to provide the Eagles with the marking target they have been crying out for in recent seasons. Post could also fill that role and has the ability to play at either end of the ground, while Robins and Anderson are expected to add speed and outside run to a team that now has some quality attacking weapons.
The Mallee Eagles recruits won’t be the only change however, with Brent Macleod and Harry Allen taking over the coaching duties from Brent Sheahan. For Allen, to coach his home club is a dream that’s about to be realized, but of more importance is his clubs desire to climb back into the top five.
“We’re bullish and confident with what we can do this year, but we’re not getting ahead of ourselves,” Allen said.
“We’ve recruited really well, but more importantly, we’ve got plenty of young guys that have had massive pre-seasons and then guys coming back from injury such as Toby Sheahan, who’ll be like a new recruit for us.
“Honestly, finals is the bare minimum for us I feel, there’s a real hunger within our playing group that we want to be playing finals, but then everyone is hoping to achieve the same thing so we really won’t know until the season gets under way to see where we fit.”
The other positive for the Eagles will be the continued improvement from their local contingent, with Zac O’Meara having won the Eagles best and fairest last season and Billy O’Meara on track for a breakout year after a strong showing in 2023. Add in Beau Bennett, Darcy McGregor and Brady Fordham and the Eagles should also have the depth to compete with the better clubs according to Allen.
“We haven’t had this level of depth for several years now, so to go into a season with five or six guys who really should be playing senior footy and be likely to miss out on a game is pretty exciting to be honest,” Allen said.
“Depth is so important to being successful, especially when injuries happen year in one form or another.
“The way we’ve set up our team and our focus across the pre-season has really been around being a good stoppage team, but then we have guys on the outside that can break the lines as well.
“Most teams tend to prioritize one or the other, be it winning the contested ball or outside run, whereas we feel we have a team that can exploit both.”
FROM THE COACH
“There’s a positive feeling around the club currently, a bit of a revamp of the footy department and I suppose more importantly, our whole game plan is totally different to what we’ve been playing over the last few seasons. We’ve been a bit disappointed with our last two seasons, and I think we’d be a bit disappointed again if we didn’t make the top five.”
INS & OUTS
INS: Jordan Robins (Altona Vikings), Harry Hollow (Nairne Bremer), Darcy Hourigan (Nairne Bremer), Troy Anderson (Modewarre), Jayden Post (Altona Vikings), Jai Middleton (Beechworth), Kieren Bourke (Newcomb), Clem Miller (Langhorn Creek).
OUTS: Jacob Wade (Murrabit), Jack Shannahan (Murrabit), Angus McKenzie (retired), Brandon Gardiner, Andrew McDonald, Brent Sheahan.
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2024
While it’s been a tough couple of seasons for the Eagles, with just eight wins from their last 29 matches, but a much-improved and highly competitive Mallee outfit is what’s expected to run onto the park this season. A change in game plan should also improve performance, with the Eagles’ ball movement considered slow and predictable at times last year. Their biggest challenge will be in getting their playing list to gel, with several new recruits joining the club this off-season and travelling each week. Will ease into the season with games against Tooleybuc-Manangatang and Swan Hill either side of their round 2 bye, with double-up matches against Kerang, NNW United and Cohuna to come.
KEY PLAYER
Zac O’Meara: While it’s hard to overlook Darcy Hourigan, who comes to the Eagles with massive wraps on him, there is also no denying how important Zac O’Meara has become to his side in recent seasons. Can play any position on the ground, from key forward, midfield or even in the ruck, but it’s been across half back where he has had the most influence on the game. His ability to read the play and thwart many opposition advances with his contested marking makes him invaluable to the Eagles and was duly rewarded by winning his first senior best and fairest last year.
BIG IMPROVER
Billy O’Meara: After making his debut in 2022, O’Meara followed up by playing every match in the seniors in what became a breakout year last season. By year’s end, O’Meara had developed into a starting onballer, although with an influx of recruits, he will likely play more across half forward and become part of the Eagles rotations. This should only benefit O’Meara’s game, where he can continue to develop without the pressure of impacting the match every week.
THE BURNING QUESTION
Will the Eagles be able to gel together with so many new recruits and travellers?
We’re not likely to know the answer until midway through the season in fairness, but the early signs are certainly positive. The early indications coming from the Eagles after their practice matches are that gelling together shouldn’t be an issue, with the recruits, both new and from last year, along with the locals, are all on the same page and intent on success. Winning games is the only concern now, and if the men in blue and gold can put some points on the board early in the season, their belief will skyrocket.
MALLEE EAGLES PREDICTED BEST 22
B. Clinton Cummins – Joe Halloran – Brett Thomas
HB. Toby Sheahan – Zac O’Meara – Shaun Harrison
C. Beau Bennett – Harry Allen – Darcy McGregor
HF. Troy Anderson – Jayden Post – Billy O’Meara
F. Brent Macleod – Darcy Hourigan – Harry Hollow
R. Jai Middleton – Brady Fordham – Jordan Robins
INT. Liam Drummond – Paul Davis – Jonah Devlin – Wes Bennett
