Whittlesea is investing in the future as it aims for improvement in the Northern Football League division 1.
After finishing ninth last season, with the season cut short due to COVID-19, the Eagles are aiming to take further steps forward in their second season back in the top grade.
Eagles coach Blair Harvey said they have bought in nearly a dozen younger players who they were hoping would be long term players for them.
“The aim is to improve,” he said.
“We were ninth last year and any higher than that is an improvement. We are still a relatively young side, so there will be natural progression in the group.
“We’ve got a lot of younger boys in. We’ve worked really hard to get the best local talent that we could.
“We’re hoping they will be at the club for the next 10 to 15 and hopefully play senior football.”
Among the young brigade to join the Eagles are Brody Glenn, Will Plain, Jack Maruff, Joel Fitzgerald, Mark Peggararo and Jett Ladewig.
While youth has been the focus for the Eagles, they have added experience through the signing of former AFL player Jarrod Waite.
Harvey said the 244-gamer with Carlton and North Melbourne had exceeded all expectations.
“He did not miss a session pre-Christmas,” Harvey said. “He had some work stuff after the break but is back full time now.
“He has been great with the younger players.”
Harvey said Waite was likely to play forward for them this season, but it isn’t locked in.
“We’ll leave that up to him,” he said. “In the practice match he started at centre half forward and then popped up at half back.
“He has the ability to play both ends and if we need someone to go back, I’m sure he will put his hand up.
David Mennen, who has joined the club from Benalla, is another who is expected to come in and make an impact. Mennen has previously been VFL listed.
The club also earlier in the pre-season announced the signing of former Melbourne AFL player Corey Wagner.
The Eagles were set to kick off their season on Saturday against Greensborough, after deadline,
Harvey said they were keen to get back out there after a couple of interrupted years of football.
In other round one matches, Bundoora was set to play West-Preston Lakeside.
For the result of the Eagles match and other matches from the weekend, head to www.starweekly.com.au.
Tara Murray
