By Lachlan Onions
Penola will return to action on Saturday for Round 12 of Kowree Naracoorte Tatiara football when it hosts Keith.
The Crows have been one of the stronger sides this season and are fourth on the ladder with seven wins from 11 games.
Back in Round 3, Keith claimed a win at home against Penola in a one-sided contest.
The Eagles were no match for the Crows who ran out 91-point victors.
Penola heads into this game off an unenviable run of fixtures.
The Eagles’ Round 12 clash will be their fifth game in a row against a top five side, a run of games which tested the limits of the side.
Penola will be eager to redeem itself after it was comprehensively defeated at home in Round 11 by Naracoorte.
Eagles coach, Brad Maney said the bye for the Country Championships could not have come at a better time.
“The last two weeks have been incredibly disappointing, the bye has come at a really good time for us,” he said.
Maney said he planned to use the week off to allow the team to switch off and clear the mindset.
“When you lose, it gets really hard to keep motivation up,” he said.
The Eagles will be rejuvenated by a number of key players who are expected to make their returns this Saturday.
“We should welcome back a string of really good footballers,” Maney said.
“Gus Eckermann is finally, hopefully, going to play his first game for us after having a knee injury all year.
“Zac Deane will come back in and Brock Egan is also looking like he will come back.”
Maney also expects centre-halfback Brad Merrett, to return after he missed the Eagles’ game against Naracoorte.
“We are going to have a massive contingent of our top-end talent come back in for the Keith game which is really exciting,” Maney said.
“It is just uplifting, it is going to help everyone’s mindset to know that we are going in with a side that we feel can win a game.”
Keith will enter the game as hot favourites after it defeated Lucindale before the bye and will look to continue its strong form this season.
However, the Eagles will look to build confidence as all eyes turn towards Penola’s run home, where Maney believes his side have a strong chance of getting results.
“We are more than ready for the fight for these last five weeks,” he said.
