Eagles Expected To Soar Despite Retirements

JOEL RITCHIE

DEFENDING premiers Albion Park-Oak Flats are again the team to beat – that’s the tip from South Coast league’s first grade coaches on the eve of season 2008, which kicks off this Saturday.

The unanimous verdict from all Eagles’ eight rival first grade coaches is not surprising – Albion Park are the defending Clayton Cup champions after an unbeaten 2007 season.

Albion Park won the 2006 premiership and came up just short in the 2005 decider.

For his part, Eagles co-coach Ian Jones, who will share the duties with Jade Lucas, named cross-town rivals Shellharbour as the team to beat in 2008.

The Eagles were scheduled to face newcomers St Georges Basin at Centenary Field on Saturday but the Dolphins withdrew from this year’s first grade competition. They will now have the bye.

Warilla will meet Shellharbour at Cec Glenholmes Oval and Gerringong will host Kiama at Michael Cronin Oval to complete Saturday’s action.

On Sunday new club Shoalhaven Jets will host Berry while Batemans Bay will ptravel to Batemans Bay.

Albion Park-Oak Flats farewelled 2007 player-coach Shane Sainsbury, Darryl Brisbane and prop Derek Gray is out for the season due to a knee injury. Simon Pimanovs will at least miss the first four weeks of the season.

The Eagles have lured Gerringong duo Matt Hingle and Michael Maslanka and former Albion Park-Oak Flats players Ben and Danny Sartori, Todd Sault and Cole Skelly have returned to the fold.

“We have lost a few blokes so we are just worried about getting off to a good start,” Jones said.

“We want to be competitive week-to-week and hopefully make the semis.”

Shellharbour’s Allan Carroll, who will share the coaching duties with Peter Yattras, said his side was looking forward to a big season.

Matt Hillcoat, Josh Champion, Simon Rushby, Craig Paku and Scott Sablowski are back and Port’s Matt Michalowski and Riverina product Robbie Byatt have joined the club.

Warilla-Lake South are tipped to be the competition’s dark horses under Peter Hooper.

The Gorillas have lost 2007 coach Josh Guyatt but have signed Port’s Aaron Griffiths and Wests Nathan Badger. Junior Liam Watson has returned to the club.

Hooper said the Gorillas were aiming for the semi-finals after missing the finals in 2007.

Meanwhile, Kiama are shaping as this year’s big improvers after an off-season recruitment drive that lured ex-players Josh Elliot, Mark Duncan, Luke Gilmore, Kal Baird, Ryan Gunning and Jeremy Alger. The Knights also signed Steven Murphy and Michael Hinkley.

However, the Knights have lost talisman Daniel Gunning, who has moved to Western Australia for work commitments. Damien Bryson and Lance Fletcher have also moved on.

Coach Tony Fittler said the Knights were not getting carried away with their off-season recruitment.

“We want to get through each week and work towards September,” Fittler said.