Tara Murray
Whittlesea’s core group has put pen to paper as the club looks to have an impact in Northern Football League division 1.
Having won the division 2 premiership in 2019, the Eagles were set for the top division this year before the season was cancelled due to COVID-19.
Reappointed senior coach Blair Harvey said the playing group was keen to get back on the field.
Harvey said he had no hesitations in continuing on in the role, having first led the side in 2019.
“With the club coming up into the first division, it’s enticing to try and survive in the first division,” he said.
“We’re really excited to be back up and we’re looking forward to having a crack.
“We’ve tried to stay as positive as we can. We’ve kept in contact as most clubs would have done through messages, whatsapp and social media.
“Some guys have been able to work and others haven’t. You wrap your arms around them, as it has been challenging.”
The Eagles have been busy re-signing the playing group in recent weeks.
Harvey said 17 of the 22 premiership players from 2019 had re-signed and were keen for the challenge of playing in division 1.
“The buy in from the group has been huge, especially with the salary cap cut in half.
“Most players are taking a 50 per cent pay cut. We’ve signed 17 of the 22 from the premiership side and there’s a couple more we are waiting on.
“Clubs coming from the second division to first normally have a huge drop in numbers, with a few older guys who don’t want to go up.
“Everyone has been really keen to play senior division.”
Harvey said a number of younger up and coming players had also committed, with close to 35 players signed for next year.
Star recruit Bailey Rice though won’t pull on the jumper for the Eagles next year. The former AFL listed player signed with the club earlier this year, but has now secured a scholarship in America as he looks at a punting career.
Harvey said they were talking to three or four players that could fill the role left vacant by Rice’s departure.
While no football in 2020 had been disappointing, Harvey said the playing group had been using the time wisely.
“A lot of guys have been in the [home] gym,” he said.
“An area we thought we had to improve on, was strength and size. It’s been good for the boys to have an extra year in the gym and we know that the boys are putting on a fair bit of muscle.”
Harvey said things were also going well off field for the club, with a new president set to be appointed last week.
