East Coast Eagles AFC
Encyclopedia
East Coast Eagles is an Australian rules football
club competing in the Sydney AFL
competition and based out of the Sydney suburb of Rouse Hill, New South Wales
.
Previously known as the Baulkham Hills Falcons and wearing maroon and gold, this team wears the West Coast Eagles
uniforms of blue and Gold.
In 1988, the club had enough numbers to field an under 19 team in the Sydney Football League. As the Sydney University
club could not field an under 19 team, Baulkham Hills played in their stead. The team had a successful season, eventually finishing in fourth place after losing the first semi-final to Pennant Hills. As this team was an amalgamation of players from the Hawks and the Kookabuuras, a new emblem – the Falcons – was born. The team played in a maroon jersey with gold stripes, similar to the jersey of the Subiaco
club playing in the WAFL
.
In the early 80's Baulkham Hills played in the SDSFA at their home ground at the Kellyville Postal Institute Club, then later moved to Charles McLaughlin Reserve. This period of the club was not a successful one and both the First and Reserve Grade teams went long periods without wins.
In 1989, the club fielded a senior team competing in the Sydney Football Association (Division 2) competition. The team met with moderate success in their first year, finishing fourth in a seven team competition, being knocked out of the finals race in the first semi-final.
In 1990 the club had gathered enough support from ex-junior players and disenchanted players from other clubs to field teams in the Sydney Football Association (SFA) Division 1 competition in the first grade, reserve grade and under 20 competitions. 1990 was a successful season, with the first grade team eventually losing the Grand Final to Balmain
at Erskineville Oval and Doug Scholz winning the Snow Medal for the best and fairest player in the competition.
In the following year the Falcons turned the tables on Balmain and won their first senior premiership in a keenly fought match at Roger Sheeran Oval.
By 1993 the club had outgrown the SFA and was promoted to the Sydney Football League. The Falcons endured a tough couple of years in 1993 and 1994 before making the preliminary final in 1995. It was in 1995 that the club produced its first Phelan Medallist in ruckman
Graham Jones.
Between 1996 and 1999 the club struggled, never finishing higher than fifth on the ladder. One high point for the club during these lean years was Jarrod Crosby winning the club's second Phelan Medal in 1998.
Before the 2000 season began, the club struck up a partnership with the West Coast Eagles and was renamed the East Coast Eagles.
In 2006, the club were undefeated through the home and away season, and easily won their second semi final to qualify for the grand final. But in a shock result, the Eagles suffered their only loss of the season on grand final day, going down by 2 points to Pennant Hills in wet conditions at Henson Park.
In 2008 the club finished the season in fourth before defeating North Shore (by 50 points), St George (by 65) and UNSW/Eastern Suburbs (by 45) to reach their second Grand Final in three years against arch rivals Pennant Hills
. Despite trailing by just 17 points at half time, the Eagles ended up going down by 104 points.
In 2009 the club moved to their new oval Bruce Purser Reserve
on the corner of Withers Rd and Commercial Rd, Rouse Hill
In 2009, The East Coast Eagles won their first ever AFL Sydney Premiership, winning the Grand Final against UNSW/Eastern Suburbs 22.12 (144) to 13.12 (90). Gus Seebeck kicked 10 goals for the game.
Captain, Jon Vlatko was named as the Club Champion in 2009, with Gus Seebeck finishing as runner up. Mark Skuse was announced as the Player's Player. In Division 1, Josh Shepherd claimed his third straight Best and Fairest award at the club by winning the Bill McLeod Medal, after taking out the Premier Cup Under 18's Best and Fairest award in 2007 and 2008.
In 2010, the Eagles did it again securing Back to Back Premierships by defeating Sydney Uni at Blacktown Olympic Park
- 13.9 (87) to 10.10 (70). Damien Bowles claimed his first Club Champion medallion to go with his Rod Podbury Medal on Grand Final Day. Damien was unlucky not to also claim the League's Phelan Medal when after polling the most votes, he was ruled ineligible owing to suspension during the season.
The U/18 Premier Cup lads were beaten in the Grand Final by 6 points after extra time by Sydney University. Luke McLeod won the Division One medal named after his father Bill. James Ford took out the Division Three B&F whilst Dean Costello and Adam Hutt won their respective U/18 awards in Premier and Challenge Cup.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
club competing in the Sydney AFL
Sydney AFL
The "AFL Sydney" is an Australian rules football League, based in metropolitan Sydney, Australia.The AFL Sydney competition comprises 21 clubs playing across 5 senior divisions with 2 under 18 competitions.-History:...
competition and based out of the Sydney suburb of Rouse Hill, New South Wales
Rouse Hill, New South Wales
Rouse Hill is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Rouse Hill is located 42 kilometres north-west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of The Hills Shire...
.
Previously known as the Baulkham Hills Falcons and wearing maroon and gold, this team wears the West Coast Eagles
West Coast Eagles
The West Coast Eagles are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League. The club is based in Perth, Western Australia. The club was founded in 1986 and played its first games in the 1987 season. Its current home ground is Subiaco Oval...
uniforms of blue and Gold.
History
The history of the East Coast Eagles can be traced back to the formation of the Baulkham Hills Junior Australian Football Club in 1976. Since 1976 Baulkham Hills has fielded teams in all age groups in the major junior competition in suburban Sydney. Baulkham Hills are the most successful junior club in Sydney, having enough players to field two teams in every age group in most seasons and more often than not winning the premiership. In the mid-to-late 1980s it was not uncommon for two Baulkham Hills teams (then known as the Hawks and the Kookaburras) to play each other in grand finals.In 1988, the club had enough numbers to field an under 19 team in the Sydney Football League. As the Sydney University
Sydney University Students AFC
Sydney University Australian National Football Club claims to have been founded in 1863 and to be the oldest Australian rules football club in New South Wales. However, this claim is based on the club being a spin-off from Sydney University Football Club, Australia's oldest rugby union club, which...
club could not field an under 19 team, Baulkham Hills played in their stead. The team had a successful season, eventually finishing in fourth place after losing the first semi-final to Pennant Hills. As this team was an amalgamation of players from the Hawks and the Kookabuuras, a new emblem – the Falcons – was born. The team played in a maroon jersey with gold stripes, similar to the jersey of the Subiaco
Subiaco Football Club
The Subiaco Football Club, nicknamed the Lions, is an Australian rules football club in the West Australian Football League . It was founded in 1896, and admitted to the WAFL in 1901, along with North Fremantle...
club playing in the WAFL
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
.
In the early 80's Baulkham Hills played in the SDSFA at their home ground at the Kellyville Postal Institute Club, then later moved to Charles McLaughlin Reserve. This period of the club was not a successful one and both the First and Reserve Grade teams went long periods without wins.
In 1989, the club fielded a senior team competing in the Sydney Football Association (Division 2) competition. The team met with moderate success in their first year, finishing fourth in a seven team competition, being knocked out of the finals race in the first semi-final.
In 1990 the club had gathered enough support from ex-junior players and disenchanted players from other clubs to field teams in the Sydney Football Association (SFA) Division 1 competition in the first grade, reserve grade and under 20 competitions. 1990 was a successful season, with the first grade team eventually losing the Grand Final to Balmain
Balmain Australian Football Club
Balmain Australian Football Club is an Australian rules football club competing in the Sydney AFL league and based out of the Sydney suburb of Balmain.The club recently did a deal with the Fremantle Dockers, and are now known as the Balmain Dockers...
at Erskineville Oval and Doug Scholz winning the Snow Medal for the best and fairest player in the competition.
In the following year the Falcons turned the tables on Balmain and won their first senior premiership in a keenly fought match at Roger Sheeran Oval.
By 1993 the club had outgrown the SFA and was promoted to the Sydney Football League. The Falcons endured a tough couple of years in 1993 and 1994 before making the preliminary final in 1995. It was in 1995 that the club produced its first Phelan Medallist in ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
Graham Jones.
Between 1996 and 1999 the club struggled, never finishing higher than fifth on the ladder. One high point for the club during these lean years was Jarrod Crosby winning the club's second Phelan Medal in 1998.
Before the 2000 season began, the club struck up a partnership with the West Coast Eagles and was renamed the East Coast Eagles.
In 2006, the club were undefeated through the home and away season, and easily won their second semi final to qualify for the grand final. But in a shock result, the Eagles suffered their only loss of the season on grand final day, going down by 2 points to Pennant Hills in wet conditions at Henson Park.
In 2008 the club finished the season in fourth before defeating North Shore (by 50 points), St George (by 65) and UNSW/Eastern Suburbs (by 45) to reach their second Grand Final in three years against arch rivals Pennant Hills
Pennant Hills Demons AFC
Pennant Hills Demons is an Australian rules football club competing in the Sydney AFL league and based out of the Sydney suburb of Pennant Hills. Their home ground is Ern Holmes Oval.-History:The club was formed in 1971...
. Despite trailing by just 17 points at half time, the Eagles ended up going down by 104 points.
In 2009 the club moved to their new oval Bruce Purser Reserve
Bruce Purser Reserve
Bruce Purser Reserve is a sports facility in Kellyville, an outer suburb of Sydney, Australia. It was constructed in 2008 on the site of a former rubbish tip, at the corner of Commercial Road and Withers Road. Its main feature is a grassed oval constructed to competition standards for Australian...
on the corner of Withers Rd and Commercial Rd, Rouse Hill
In 2009, The East Coast Eagles won their first ever AFL Sydney Premiership, winning the Grand Final against UNSW/Eastern Suburbs 22.12 (144) to 13.12 (90). Gus Seebeck kicked 10 goals for the game.
Captain, Jon Vlatko was named as the Club Champion in 2009, with Gus Seebeck finishing as runner up. Mark Skuse was announced as the Player's Player. In Division 1, Josh Shepherd claimed his third straight Best and Fairest award at the club by winning the Bill McLeod Medal, after taking out the Premier Cup Under 18's Best and Fairest award in 2007 and 2008.
In 2010, the Eagles did it again securing Back to Back Premierships by defeating Sydney Uni at Blacktown Olympic Park
Blacktown Olympic Park
Blacktown International Sportspark is a multi-sports venue in Doonside, a suburb in western Sydney, Australia. It includes three baseball diamonds, four softball diamonds, an athletics track and a Australian Rules Football/Cricket ground....
- 13.9 (87) to 10.10 (70). Damien Bowles claimed his first Club Champion medallion to go with his Rod Podbury Medal on Grand Final Day. Damien was unlucky not to also claim the League's Phelan Medal when after polling the most votes, he was ruled ineligible owing to suspension during the season.
The U/18 Premier Cup lads were beaten in the Grand Final by 6 points after extra time by Sydney University. Luke McLeod won the Division One medal named after his father Bill. James Ford took out the Division Three B&F whilst Dean Costello and Adam Hutt won their respective U/18 awards in Premier and Challenge Cup.
Famous players
- Terry ThrippTerry ThrippTerry Thripp is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Sydney in the Victorian/Australian Football League ....
was a Baulkham Hills junior prior to playing 78 games with the Sydney Swans. - Sanford WheelerSanford WheelerSanford Wheeler is a former Australian rules football player for the Sydney Swans....
played several games for the club in the early 2000's after 43 games with the Sydney Swans. - Trent Goodrem, current Central District SANFL triple premiership player and 2009 Jack Oatey Medalist