NEWTOWN & Chilwell has been dealt a harsh injury blow, losing captain Michael Stanley for the GFL season.
Stanley injured his achilles last week and doctors confirmed the worst that his season was over before it had begun. Eagles coach Jacob Spolding said Stanley's injury would be a blow for the team.
"It is devastating for us. So after all the good news there is a bit of bad news for Michael and the football club," Spolding said.
"Hopefully it is only a one year injury and he can come back bigger and stronger than ever."
He said Stanley would have a match-day role in 2012.
"He will fill a role with our reserves side, coaching them," Spolding said.
He is going to be involved there and we are looking forward to him doing a good job. So he is still going to be involved with the football club there is no doubt about that, but just not in a playing capacity.
"He has played 90 games for our football club, he is a Newtown person through and through."
Stanley's injury is a blow to the Eagles, who signed former AFL teammates Brad Ottens and Ryan Gamble in the space of a week.
Spolding said the club wanted to deliver success to long-term Eagles players and supporters.
"That's why we went out and recruited like we did, to give guys like him (Stanley) and Brock Bouch, the guys who have been at the footy club a long time, to provide success," he said.
Last Modified on 07/01/2013 13:39