Eagles confident in history-making Grand Final appearance
The Australian Central East Perth Eagles will make club history on Friday when they face off against two-time defending champions Southlands Boulevard Willetton Tigers in their first appearance in a Grand Final.
After losing game one to the Eastern Suns in the first round of the playoffs they came back to win games two and three to book their spot in the next round. They then swept the Perry Lakes Hawks in their semi-final series, winning the first game at home and then winning game two away to secure a berth in Friday's title decider at the WA Basketball Centre.
MVP candidate Samantha Norwood said it felt amazing to have made it to her first Grand Final.
“I’ve played for other clubs and made the finals each year but this is my first grand final, it's great being a part of this team," she said.
The Eagles field a team with a good combination of youth and experience. Elizabeth Cooke, who has played in four Grand Finals before, said: “I’ve won one and lost three, and am very excited to be part of this team trying to win my second.”
Kate Fielding is another experienced player, having played 10 seasons with the Southwest Slammers in Bunbury but is playing finals basketball for the first time in her career in her first year with the Eagles.
“This team has a great mix of players, we have fantastic on court chemistry," Fielding said.
Bindi Foote has been an Eagle since 2002 and remembers the lean years.
“Some seasons we’d only win a couple of games for the year, but now we’re a team that other people want to join. The people here are awesome, the club culture has gotten so much better from when I started. The team gels on and off the court, it’s like having a second family," Foote said.
Nicole Jorre St Jorre, East Perth's point guard, knows about on court pressure. “It’s hard sometimes getting the offences set, but the girls work hard to help. We’ve been successful this year because we work as a team, she said.
The Eagles will go into Friday night’s Grand Final with underdog status. Willetton have won the last two Grand Finals and finished the regular season on top of the ladder, although, in their two regular season games, the Eagles have been victorious on both occasions.
Eagles Head Coach Anthony Fletcher said: “We’re looking forward to the challenge and enjoying our status of underdogs. If we play our defensive game well and our shots drop I’m confident we’ll get the win.”
Article by Leigh Dalton
Photo by Mick Cronin
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