EAGALS Bring The Heat And Humble Manly In Smashing Victory

Staring the barrel of back-to-back losses was a very plausible possibility for our Premier Division EAGALS. After a surprising loss to North Shore on the Gore Hill Oval AstroTurf, we travelled to Manly to face the ladder leading and undefeated Wolves.

Manly have been flying in Season 2020, undeniably the big improvers in their competition. However, unknown to them, they were coming up against a fired up East Coast squad hell bent on jumping back to the winners list.

This was going to be a true test of character for the EAGALS, and with plenty on the line, victory was essential.

From the outset, form guides were thrown out the window as it became apparent that the EAGALS wanted the footy far more than their opponents.

We were harder at it, stronger in the air, and applied ruthless tackling pressure that really shocked Manly to the core. Entering our forward 50 in the first term, we were outstanding, with Giants AFLW player Taylah Davies being the real star of the show. At the other end of the field, Georgia Garnett continued her starring season across half-back, leading the defensive unit extremely well.

We continued boosting our intimidation factor in the second quarter, blitzing Manly to devastating effect. Any neutral fan who was following this game would have thought the competition ladder must have been a typo, because our EAGALS were in destruction mode on this day.

Manly struggled to hit the scoreboard, whilst East Coast thrived in front of goal, as we took a 38-2 lead into half-time.

The goals slowed down in the second half, but our pressure around the ground did not. The Wolves had no answers across the four quarters, in what was undoubtedly East Coast’s best game of the season. We ran way with the game in the end winning by 38 points, with Davies and Garnett clear best on grounds, a 4-goal haul from Davies a real highlight.

This was a message, a warning shot to the rest of the competition. The EAGALS are back, and ready for all comers as finals footy beckons.

Next up for the EAGALS is the annual Back-2-Baulko Showdown against arch rivals Pennant Hills Demons, and I for one cannot wait to see what that has in store.

Will Cashmore