James Murphy
PENOLA A Grade footballers gear up for a Round 1 meeting against 2023 minor premier Mundulla this weekend.
The Eagles are under new management this season, with Jayden Eldridge taking over as playing coach from Brad Maney, who has relocated to Western Australia.
Eldridge brings plenty of experience to the top job, having played at representative level routinely across his career.
Speaking to The Pennant this week, he was pleased with how the team was shaping up leading into the season opener.
“We have lost a few numbers from last year, but gained a few new recruits,” he said.
“At this stage we are shaping up to be alright, but you never know in this league what other teams have got until you front up in the first couple of weeks.”
However, he had faith in the group and said there was plenty of enthusiasm around the club for the year to come.
“We have been hitting the training track hard and everyone is enjoying it and there is a bit of excitement out there which is always nice,” he said.
In addition to Maney, the Eagles will be without the services of Brock Egan, Matt Ferguson and Tom Williams who are all returning to their home clubs, while Jacob Pfitzner departs for Glencoe in the MSEFL.
They take some talent with them, but the Eagles have recruited well to try and cover those losses.
“We have Harry Evans and Jak Ryan from Edenhope – they are locals from Mount Gambier – and Beau Shinnick from up Barossa way,” Eldridge said.
“We also have Reece Timms from Port MacDonnell who we picked up in the last month.”
Eldridge was also excited to utilise some of the young talent coming through the club, with junior development a key focus of his.
The Eagles have a good pre-season behind them and will be eager to rise up the ranks after an eighth-place finish to 2023.
Penola won just four games for the year, but let some close games slip by a handful of points.
Eldridge said the bar was not being set too high, but the ultimate goal was to play finals football again.
“To be realistic we are looking at that fifth spot,” he said.
“We are hoping we can win some more games than we did last year and we want to get back to playing finals football.
“We are just going to put our best foot forward.
“I think we are going to be competitive and that is the main thing.”
It will be a tough start to the year against Mundulla – who only lost two minor-round games last year – but the Eagles will take comfort from playing on their home deck.
“From what I know about them (Mundulla) they are a pretty tight-knit side and I have played some zone footy with some of their players,” Eldridge said.
“They will be a fair challenge, but I don’t doubt the side we pick on Thursday will be up to it.”
