The Scarecrow
10 Mar 2004, 19:22
Story Written By: Brett Stubbs
AFTER 12 months in hibernation, the Sorell Football Club has awoken and is in full swing.
The seniors and the reserves are soaring just four months after the club was officially accepted back into the AFL Southern Tasmania fold.
The Eagles were forced to sit out last season's Premier League after failing to secure enough volunteers to help run the club.
But now the club is back up and running in the regional competition, gearing itself for its first match -- at home against Huonville on April 3
-- with a new president, Stephen Old, and a new board.
The Eagles have also regained the services of former coach Anthony McConnon and the return of a number of past players.
Old said the club has had about 50 players to its pre-season training.
``The atmosphere around the place is really good,'' he said.
``We're bloody rapt to be honest from where we have come from six months ago. It is just fantastic.
``We have basically changed the whole atmosphere of the place, turned it into a real community thing and made sure the senior club looks after all the people around the club.''
The Eagles have regained former players Ben Waller from North Hobart, John Ferguson from Dodges Ferry and Peter Cross from Queensland.
The club has also strengthened its ties with the Sorell Junior Football Club and the Sorell District High School.
``We just can't wait for the first game,'' he said.
``It will be a huge day down there for our first game, run a junior clinic on the back oval, games on the front oval and have a good function down there for our sponsors.''
Old said about the only problem facing the club at present is a lack of under-17s players, a dilemma facing other regional teams.
The Eagles have advertised at Sorell District High, Rosny College and done a letter drop in the Midway, Sorell area.
``We appreciate the under-17s are more likely to rock up with a week or two to go,'' he said.
``We are just saying, `Are you out there and if you are please tell us so we can keep going with the under-17s'.
``We just want to be smart about it and if we are not going to have the numbers in a week or two's time then we will pull the pin on it.
``We don't want to leave it to the last minute.''
AFTER 12 months in hibernation, the Sorell Football Club has awoken and is in full swing.
The seniors and the reserves are soaring just four months after the club was officially accepted back into the AFL Southern Tasmania fold.
The Eagles were forced to sit out last season's Premier League after failing to secure enough volunteers to help run the club.
But now the club is back up and running in the regional competition, gearing itself for its first match -- at home against Huonville on April 3
-- with a new president, Stephen Old, and a new board.
The Eagles have also regained the services of former coach Anthony McConnon and the return of a number of past players.
Old said the club has had about 50 players to its pre-season training.
``The atmosphere around the place is really good,'' he said.
``We're bloody rapt to be honest from where we have come from six months ago. It is just fantastic.
``We have basically changed the whole atmosphere of the place, turned it into a real community thing and made sure the senior club looks after all the people around the club.''
The Eagles have regained former players Ben Waller from North Hobart, John Ferguson from Dodges Ferry and Peter Cross from Queensland.
The club has also strengthened its ties with the Sorell Junior Football Club and the Sorell District High School.
``We just can't wait for the first game,'' he said.
``It will be a huge day down there for our first game, run a junior clinic on the back oval, games on the front oval and have a good function down there for our sponsors.''
Old said about the only problem facing the club at present is a lack of under-17s players, a dilemma facing other regional teams.
The Eagles have advertised at Sorell District High, Rosny College and done a letter drop in the Midway, Sorell area.
``We appreciate the under-17s are more likely to rock up with a week or two to go,'' he said.
``We are just saying, `Are you out there and if you are please tell us so we can keep going with the under-17s'.
``We just want to be smart about it and if we are not going to have the numbers in a week or two's time then we will pull the pin on it.
``We don't want to leave it to the last minute.''