Eagles front bitter rival North Adelaide to open the 2019 season

Woodville-West Torrens has proved a highly competitive force for many years, now the Eagles have a new coach and some key recruits to have the fans excited about next season.

Five reasons for Eagles fans to be positive ahead of the 2019 SANFL season:

1 EAGLES’ fans need look no further than the opening round to be excited about next season. The Eagles will front North Adelaide at Woodville Oval in a stand alone game on Sunday, March 31. This is a rivalry which has been simmering for the past few years and it has taken on far greater significance following the preliminary final drama. The Eagles were angered by the 19th man fiasco when they lost the game by five points and the Roosters went on to win the grand final. The Eagles will also play Good Friday football when they meet West Adelaide at Richmond Oval in round 4. The Community Carnival game against Adelaide has been a massive successive and will be at Woodville Oval in round 17.

2 FOR the past nine years the Eagles have listened to the message of Michael Godden. And it was a good message too, with a premiership and regular finals action. Say what you want about the Eagles’ record in finals, but they were always around the mark and gave the fans plenty to cheer about. They have been a well structured, competitive force under Godden. But now there is a new voice after Godden moved to Adelaide and has been replaced by Sam Lonergan. He knows the SANFL well after playing with Glenelg and built a respected reputation coaching in Tasmania.

3 IT will be something of a family affair at Woodville Oval after Jesse Lonergan, nephew of the new coach, opted to join the Eagles following is delisting by Gold Coast. Jesse played 60 AFL games after being the No. 13 pick in the 2012 draft and describes himself as a hard-working midfielder. The coach has also brought with him a young midfield talent from Launceston with Jamieson House moving to Adelaide after playing under Lonergan this season. The way the Wynard teenager goes about his business should excite the Eagles’ faithful and he is ready to step up the SANFL challenge.

Patrick Cripps of the Blues tackles Jesse Lonergan of the Suns during the Round 19 AFL match at Metricon Stadium. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

4 FANS always appreciate players coming out of the AFL system returning to their former state league club and there is no doubt Jimmy Toumpas will be welcomed back at Woodville Oval. He rose to prominence as a 17-year old when he played in the Eagles’ grand final triumph in 2011 in just his fifth senior game. After being picked up by Melbourne at No. 4 in the 2012 draft, Toumpas played 37 AFL games with the Demons and Port Adelaide. He is only 24 and should be a quality long-term prospect for the Eagles.

5 THERE are two additions to the women’s state league competition and one is the Eagles. The other is Central District. The Eagles’ women’s team, coached by former Norwood assistant Tess Baxter, will make its debut against Glenelg at Noarlunga Oval on Friday night, February 15. Their first home game is against North Adelaide at Woodville Oval on March 31, straight after the men’s team opens its season in a grudge match against the Roosters.