Tim Michell
ALICIA Eva says she can’t wait to juggle the magnet board as Calder Cannons’ TAC Cup Girls coach after her AFLW season with Collingwood came to an end.
The Magpies vice-captain will take the reins from Jason Peak, who steered Calder to a 94-point Round 1 victory over Gippsland Power on Sunday.
“My role has been a bit of a juggling act in this pre-season,” Eva told Calder’s radio show Pathway to the Top.
“Even from day one when I was talking to (talent manager) Ian Kyte at the Cannons around what my role would look like, we wanted to make sure there was a contingency plan in place.
“I didn’t want to take on the head coach role and be a kind of fly-in, fly-out figure. I think it is really important that there is consistency across the program.
“We sat down with Jason Peak…he was happy to come on board, knew plenty of the girls and had plenty of experience.”
Eva will lead Calder for the first time on Friday night at Rams Arena when the Cannons look to maintain their unbeaten start against Eastern Ranges.
She said Chloe Molloy, Monique Conti, Madison Prespakis, Molly Warburton and Sarah Dargan – all key players in the victory over Gippsland – would be key to the club’s prospects this season.
“They continue to develop and we have got Maddy Prespakis who is in the AIS Academy, as a bottom-ager this year we know how dangerous she is through the midfield,” Eva said.
“We have also had girls pop up like Molly Warburton who has played across half back who has developed her game really nicely.
“We are hoping she can develop into a really attacking half-back and provide us with plenty of delivery inside 50.”
The Cannons believe they have “struck gold” with two rucks chosen in the club’s inaugural TAC Cup Girls squad – Eleanor Cornish and Carla Rendelmann.
“Both are quite raw, but plenty to work with and we reckon we have struck gold with them,” Eva said.
Captain Lauren Caruso and vice-captain Alicia Rooth have also impressed their coach and will lead Calder’s charge against Ranges on Friday night at Rams Arena from 6pm.
Pathway to the Top airs from 5pm-6pm on North West FM, 98.9.
Our radio show can also be streamed via the station’s website - www.northwestfm.org
You can listen to Alicia's full interview here: http://bit.ly/2nmuvDz
Last Modified on 23/03/2017 15:30