Club
Sydney Hills Eagles
Key players
Being the Hills Eagles Reserve Grade side does make selecting key players very difficult with a lot of movement between the grades. One familiar name amongst the transfers inbound is Kenny Ewen-Chappell from Illawarra. While it is unclear if he will be part of the NEAFL or Premier Division side, if he plays the majority of the year in Premier Division he will be seen as a real leader of the young crop of Premier Division players. Trent Baker, a former AFL Sydney Representative player played all last season in Premier Division after the year prior playing the majority of NEAFL so if he goes around again will also be a key for the side.
Star on the Rise
Again the cream of the young crop coming through will likely play the majority of the season in the NEAFL team, however much interest will surround Jake Famularo. After kicking 103 goals in the Eagles Under 18’s side who went down in the Grand Final in 2012, Jake had an interrupted first year of senior football last season managing just the seven games. If he can string a few games together this year he is capable of being a worthy Rising Star nominee and may well find his way into a permanent NEAFL starting position.
Strengths
An influx of key recruits to the senior side should see increased depth for the side however most likely the Eagles strength will come through their younger players progressing from the Under 18 competition towards the NEAFL side.
Weaknesses
Nothing ground breaking here but like any Reserve Grade side the weakness will be depth. Playing against seasoned First Grade sides week in week out will mean that the Eagles will need to be on their game every week to make any impact on the competition.
Season defining month
With new players in the senior grade the Eagles are a bit of an unknown in Premier Division so it comes as no surprise that the most important part of their season will be the opening 4 rounds. It doesn’t get any tougher than a road trip to arch rivals, and the team most tip to be the team to beat in 2014, Pennant Hills in Round 1- however back-to-back games at Bruce Purser against Western Suburbs and Sydney University respectively will be a good guide of how they will track this year. Round 4 also shapes as a tough matchup against North Shore at Gore Hill Oval. Jag a win or two in the first month and they could surprise a few during the season.
Notable Transfers
Whilst all of the inbound transfers below are likely to be part of the NEAFL squad it does make for some impressive reading:
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INS
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Name
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Surname
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Club From
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Association From
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Andrew
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Browning
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Belconnen Magpies
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AFL Canberra
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Kieran
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Emery
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Broadbeach AFC
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AFL Queensland
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Ben
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McNiece
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Morningside AFC
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AFL Queensland
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Adam
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Eckermann
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Mt Gravatt AFC
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AFL Queensland
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Jesse
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Cass
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Balmain
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AFL Sydney
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Jeconiah
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Peni
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Campbelltown Blues
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AFL Sydney
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Brent
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Jenkins
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Holroyd Parramatta Goannas
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AFL Sydney
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Thomas
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Rivers
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Pennant Hills Demons
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AFL Sydney
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Jackson
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Ferguson
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Pennant Hills Demons
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AFL Sydney
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Andrew
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McConnell
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Noble Park
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Eastern Football League (EFL)
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Josh
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Milani
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Southport
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North East Australian Football League (NEAFL)
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Luke
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Jericho
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Norwood
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South Australia National Football League (SANFL)
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Mark
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Weekes
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Mazenod OC
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Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA)
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Michael
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Riseley
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Mazenod OC
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Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA)
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Kenneth
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Ewen-Chappell
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Illawarra Lions
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AFL Sydney
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Predicted finish - 10th
Based on last year’s results and as they are after all a Reserve Grade side playing in a First Grade competition, it is hard to see them figuring in finals calculations. The side will be looking for improvement from 2013 where they finished with just the solitary win and we would expect them to get at least a few wins in 2014. A strong season from their NEAFL side would bode well for the future however.
Last Modified on 07/03/2014 20:42
