ACCORDING to Penola senior football coach Matt Tilby, the Eagles are on track as the 2019 Kowree Narracoorte Tatiara football season fast approaches.
The season kicks off on April 6, with the Eagles up against Lucindale.
Tilby said the pre-season for the club had been positive so far, with another hit out scheduled for Friday night against Millicent at McCorquindale Park.
It will be the second clash with the Saints, with the previous trial at McLaughlin Park in Millicent just a few weeks ago.
Tilby said that original match was a positive for the club as new players to the fold integrate into the roster.
“When we played Millicent we got a fair bit out of the game,” he said.
“Millicent certainly put a lot of pressure on us around the contest.
“It is a lot smaller oval than we are used to, but I was pretty happy with the way we went about it.
“There is still a lot to work on, but it was a pleasing hit out.”
The weekend saw the Eagles head up to Tailem Bend for another pre-season trial and again Tilby was pleased with the result.
“We took a squad of about 30 up to Tailem Bend,” he said.
“They had a reserves side ready to go, so some of our seniors had to play reserves.
“Again it was a much smaller oval and it was quite hot.
“Some of the guys had already played a couple of quarters of football before the seniors started, but the signs were good for us.
“We had some good passages of play, so it was a worthwhile trip and we got a bit out of it.”
Tilby said those pre-season games were crucial for the club to integrate the new players, which include former Western Border footballers Brad Bryant and Brock Egan.
“Brock (Egan) and Brad (Bryant) have brought a professional work ethic to the club, which has been great, particularly with such a young crew we have at the moment,” he said.
“They are a good influence on those boys.”
Brad and Matt Merrett have not been able to play in the trial games due to injury or other commitments, but Tilby hopes, despite their commitments with the Crows in the SANFL, they will both line up for round one.
Tilby said everyone at Penola was rearing to go, with the season just weeks away.
He said the feeling on the training track was positive, with an average of 40 players out each session and up to 60 at times since pre-season began proper in mid January.
As has been the case in recent seasons, the Eagles pride themselves on their “local” content, which remains this year.
“There is a strong local content again this season,” Tilby said.
“We have about seven guys who have come up from senior colts who will slot in well and are all hopeful of playing some senior footy.
“Louis Merrett and Harry Porter have played a couple of trial games for Glenelg Under 18s in the last couple of weeks, which has been really good.
“Louie did his pre-season up there, while Harry did his down here with us.
“Harry has got himself in terrific shape.
“He has been playing well in trials and training hard.”
Tilby said another positive this season was the fitness level of the players overall.
He said he was pleased with the fitness last year, but this year it appears to have gone to another level.
He also said the depth in the senior ranks was also an improvement on 2018.
“We probably lacked depth last year,” Tilby said.
“We found it hard to cover injuries, but the juniors were really good and a lot of them got a taste of senior football.
“They certainly were not out of their depth.
“Throw a pre-season under their belt and they certainly have not looked out of place in the trials.”
The final pre-season hit out takes place on Friday at 6pm for the A Grade side, while the Reserves have a another game on Saturday around midday, both at Penola.
“Millicent will come over to play on our deck Friday night,” Tilby said.
“They were quite impressive at home and will bring over a senior squad of about 24.
“Saturday morning we have Kongorong playing Naracoorte on our oval, then our reserves will play a trial against either Nangwarry or Kongorong.”
Overall Tilby said the oval was in “fantastic” condition, with all in place for another big season of football.
