Women's SBL Season Preview – East Perth Eagles
THE East Perth Eagles were the great improvers of the 2015 Women's SBL season and they will again be banking on their experienced brigade to push them to the playoffs in 2016.
Coach Narelle Henry did a tremendous job in 2015 for East Perth guiding the team to being a genuine playoff threat up until the final round.
Considering the Eagles had won a combined three games in the previous two seasons, it highlights just how stark the improvement was.
East Perth finished the season with an 8-14 record to end up just one game out of eighth position and the Eagles are now looking to make that jump from a near playoff team, to one that takes part in post-season action.
It will again be imports Stephanie Jones and Kelsey DeWit (formerly Maffin) along with the experienced Melissa Winfield, Hayley DeSousa and Nicole Jorre St Jorre who determine just how far East Perth advance during 2016.
There has been little change either coming or going with the Eagles for 2016 with Henry backing in the majority of the group that improved so much last year to continue to drive the team forward.
Amy Chinnery, Jodie Milligan, Kristan Pittard, Ashley Sharp, Emily Harris and Natasha Zinno have come in while Tabbatha Hile, Simone Narkle, Danielle Lipscombe, Charis Burgess, Elizabeth Cooke and Rachelle Brammer have become free agents.
During the SBL Blitz at Warwick Stadium, the Eagles defeated Lakeside Lightning but lost to the Rockingham Flames, Kalamunda Eastern Suns and Perth Redbacks.
The Eagles will begin their 2016 season on Friday March 18 up against the Willetton Tigers at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.
ROSTER
Amy Chinnery, Kerise Delacoure, Elainah Coffin, Courtney Stubbs, Gemma Houghton, Sally Graham, Hayley Desousa, Jodie Milligan, Kristan Pittard, Jodee Sontay, Kelsey DeWit (restricted), Nicole Jorre St Jorre, Melissa Winfield, Ashley Sharp, Emily Harris, Natasha Zinno, Stephanie Jones (restricted)
Coach – Narelle Henry
EXPERTS THOUGHTS
Championship Winning Coach - VLAD ALAVA
PREDICTION - 11th
If DeWit can lift her game to being an MVP contender it might be what's needed for this team to make finals. Otherwise a very similar roster and Steph Jones is another year older.
SBL Slam Radio Host - MATT CECINS
PREDICTION – 11th
The Eagles had a solid finish to 2015 and just missed out on a playoff spot. They have one of the more senior rosters in the competition and have retained their core playing group. Hayley Desousa could be on the verge of a breakout season, and Kelsey DeWit is an All Star and key ingredient for the Eagles success. Stephanie Jones needs to increase her scoring and rebounding output from last year if the Eagles are to climb up the WSBL standings.
ANONYMOUS
PREDICTION – 10th
The have retained their core group and re-signed their 2015 imports after showing improvement under Henry last year in her first season in charge. It is an aging roster with Jones, Winfield, Delacoure and Jorre St Jorre all in mid-30s but they can all deliver. They will be competitive but hard to see them contending.
Article by Chris Pike
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