Tara Murray
Keilor Park set lofty expectations heading in the FV state league 2 north-west season and it remains on track.
After struggling last year and being relegated from state league 1 north-west after finishing second bottom, the Eagles have one loss in the first 15 rounds.
Coach Serge Sabbadini said they knew they needed to have a good season after last year, but it had been better than what they had expected.
“We had to turn it around,” he said. “We pulled out all the stops and it’s working OK.
“It was disappointing dropping down a division and we had to make sure to come back up again.
“We are aiming to be in the NPL [National Premier League] which is two divisions above. We have to win two promotions.”
Sabbadini said the aim for them this season was to do enough to make sure that they get promoted back into state league 1.
He said now with the position they’ve in, they have everything in front of them.
“Three more wins will likely get us promoted, while four wins will likely give us the title.”
Sabbadini said the biggest thing for him leading into this season was having coached the side for the last nine weeks of last season.
He said it gave him a head start on what they needed in the squad, staring with defence and building from there.
“We made a big effort to get good people,” he said. “Not just good players, but good people for the club that want to play for us.”
Sabbadini said they had a few injuries at the moment so their depth has been tested.
They had three starting players out of their side in their round 14 wins.
“I wanted to have a squad of 16 to 18 really good players in case we got some injuries.
“The squad is really strong and it’s not just three players.”
The Eagles played Geelong Rangers on Saturday afternoon, after deadline.
It was a 0-0 draw.
They then face second placed Westvale Olympic this week in a massive match.
Sabbadini said as a whole club things were going well and they were really ambitious
‘The women’s side are close to promotion as well,” he said. “The club has the facilities and need to be in the NPL.
“I’ve been coaching in that division my whole life. We want to get into that division for the juniors and the junior women in the club.
“The whole club is crying out to be in NPL.”
