By Lachlan Onions
Western Border Football League medallist Jayden Eldridge and former Penola premiership player Matt Ferguson will join the Eagles for 2023.
The duo were both members of the East Gambier A Grade side last season.
The signing of Eldridge is one of the biggest acquisitions in the South East this off-season and the 2022 WBFL medal winner brings a wealth of experience and quality to Penola.
He has spent the last two-seasons as a co-coach of the Bulldogs and will be a major asset for the Eagles.
Along with the league medal, Eldridge has won the best and fairest award at East Gambier on four occasions throughout his 268-game career with the club.
He was also a key part of the Bulldogs’ 2017 drought-breaking premiership and was a consistent figure last season – named amongst his side’s best players in 11 of his 16 games.
Penola coach Brad Maney was thrilled to bring Eldridge to the club for next season.
“We are absolutely over the moon and we were just thankful he was willing to give us the time to present to him and have the discussion around where we think his football can improve in the Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara Football League,” he said.
“Jayden is a fantastic footballer – he’s played football at the highest level he can in country football.”
Maney said Eldridge’s level of experience is going to be crucial for Penola and will help the team take the next step forward.
“He (Eldridge) plays probably his best football across halfback but he will obviously have bursts in the midfield as well,” Maney said.
Eldridge will look to form what could prove to be a lethal partnership at halfback with Brad Bryant – who was named in the team of the carnival in this year’s SA Country Championships.
“Him (Eldridge) and Brad Bryant are very similar footballers, so we will be looking forward to using a rotation there,” Maney said.
Maney said he with the way his side plays, he hopes Eldridge will find himself in the front-half of the field for most of the game.
Along with Eldridge, Ferguson will also bring experience to the Eagles, who had one of the youngest sides in the competition last season.
Both players have played at Interleague level, while Eldridge has also played for Murray South East at the SA Country Championships and even represented South Australia in 2019.
Ferguson has played 196 games in his career, 88 of which were in Penola colours.
“He (Ferguson) is a beloved figure in our club and community,” Maney said.
“He’s a two-time premiership player and he’s one of those people who brings a really good vibe and he’s just a good person to have around.
“He is very flexible to have as a utility on the field … I think his best football is still in front of him.”
The duo will join Tom Williams, Brodie Foster and Jordan Galpin as off-season recruits in what has been a busy period for the blue and white.
“I think we have a base-level culture of a place where people now want to play football and understand where we are heading as a club,” Maney said.
He said everyone who has been recruited this off-season can see the vision for the club and while he believes these players will bring more success to the club, he is still focused on the process.
“We are going to have a huge pre-season and we have a goal of trying to be the fittest team in the KNT come Round 1,” Maney said.
“That is what I’m focused on at the moment.”
