Ararat Eagles: From the brink of collapse in 2019 to round one winners

A country footy club has gone from losing in excess of triple figures every week in 2019 to round one winners.

Ararat Eagles are all smiles as they walk off the ground. Photo: Ararat Eagles FC.

Four points has never meant so much to a club as it did as the Ararat Eagles on Saturday.

Two years ago, there were genuine fears over the club’s future after a season from hell where they didn’t win a game.

Their results even included a 509-point loss at the hands of Great Western, while other weeks they would struggle to field a team.

But April 17, 2021 will long live in the memory of the club after they completed the most remarkable turnaround, emerging victorious against Lismore Derrinallum by 44 points in the Mininera and District Football League.

The last time the two sides met, Lismore Derrinallum won by 327 points holding the Eagles scoreless.

Since the end of the 2019 season, an influx of players has seen countless players return to the club.

With what president Nats McRoberts described as a “brand new” side, the Eagles rallied in the second half to run away with the contest.

“The endeavour to go out and win was fantastic from our boys, we're very proud of them,” he said.

“We had set out to be competitive this season because we are coming from such a long way back.

“The boys showed glimpses on Saturday of that which is really exciting for our club.

“There were definitely a few tears around the rooms after the game because of everything we've been through.

“The win was about the club as a whole and the people who have continued working hard to keep us going.”

Ararat Eagles players celebrate a goal. Photo: Ararat Eagles FC

Under the guidance of coach Brett Sladdin, the Eagles have put together a playing group which has the town talking.

Among the returning faces are the sons of late president, Hemi Taurau, Tom and Jack who kicked five goals between them on Saturday.

While up and coming forward Mason Kelly booted five of his own.

Naish McRoberts, Zac Jenkins, Ben Robertson, Jayden Wright and former Eagles best and fairest Harry Ennis are just some of the other names which have the club excited for what lays ahead.

“Those players could have gone anywhere but they chose to come back and play for us, it is a credit to them,” McRoberts said.

“You can rely on everyone out on the ground to get the job done and they were able to do that on Saturday.

“Pre-season was a little slow to get going but numbers built really strongly to the point where we now have around 35 every night.”

The excitement in Ararat was clear on Saturday with a big crowd attending the game according to McRoberts.

“We went from having around 15 people at a game in 2019 to about 2000 for our first game of the season,” he said.

“It was like a final.”

The Eagles will get an indication of just how far they have come when they face Great Western in their traditional Anzac round clash.