Eagles Preview – Round 9

The East Perth Eagles men have a tantalising double-header in Round 9 of the NBL1 West against the Joondalup Wolves and Geraldton Buccaneers with the women facing the challenge of the Wolfpack on Friday.

Round 9 of the NBL1 West season for the Eagles begins on Friday night at HBF Arena up against the Joondalup Wolves. The women's contest gets underway at 6.30pm followed by the men's match up at 8.30pm.

The Eagles men will then back up on Sunday afternoon at midday hosting the Geraldton Buccaneers on Peter Campbell Basketball Arena at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.

WOMEN

The East Perth Eagles women head up the freeway on Friday night with the challenge of looking for a second win of the season up against the Joondalup Wolves at HBF Arena.

The Wolfpack currently sit in third position on the NBL1 West table coming into Round 9 of the 2024 season with the Eagles having one win on the board from eight matches so far this season.

East Perth had a slow start last Friday night at home to the Cockburn Cougars to end up losing by 26 points, but it was a significantly better second half performance against the defending champions.

The Eagles will now look to build on that momentum when they take on the Wolves at HBF Arena on Friday night in what will be their only appearance of Round 9 of the 2024 season.

Last week against the Cougars saw Laci Hawthrone finish with 17 points and 12 rebounds with Mary Goulding adding 14 points, nine boards and three assists while Bri Bailey and Mary Baskerville added six points apiece.

East Perth comes up against a Wolves team currently sitting on a 6-2 record with a team that features Darien Huff, Sarah Toeaina and Julia Chandler all averaging at least 14 points a game while Sirena Tuitele is making a strong contribution and Geraldynn Leaupepe has just come on board.

Life doesn’t get any easier for the Eagles this Friday up against the Wolves, but experienced sharpshooter Taylor Roberts is looking forward to East Perth testing themselves up against them.

"We had a good week at training this week and are excited for the match up on Friday night," Roberts said.

"It's going to be a challenge as they are a great team but it's one we have prepared for and won't be backing down easy."

MEN

It's a double-header weekend for the East Perth Eagles men with the chance to make a significant statement away to the Joondalup Wolves and at home to the Geraldton Buccaneers.

The Eagles come into Round 9 of the NBL1 West in exciting form having won three straight matches and now the chance presents in the two games this weekend to make a huge statement of their intentions for the rest of 2024.

First up for East Perth is taking on the Joondalup Wolves at HBF Arena on Friday night. That's a Wolfpack team who only just suffered a first defeat of the season at the hands of the Willetton Tigers.

That also took place on their home floor so they will come into the Friday night contest not to make it consecutive losses after starting the season with seven straight wins.

It's a strong Joondalup line-up too with CJ Turnage playing at an MVP level with Caleb Davis, Ethan Elliott, Jonathan Wade, Jordan Wellsteed and Christian Jurlina among those around him.

However, East Perth comes into the game following wins over Mandurah, Geraldton and Cockburn, and with things coming together nicely starting with Lee Roberts joining Sebit Reath, Sharif Watson and David Okwera up front.

Then there's Sunday Dech, Taylor Young, Jerami Grace and Nick Filpo leading the way in the back court, and the Eagles now come into the weekend on a 5-4 record but with a three-game winning streak.

Then following that Friday match up, the Eagles will turn their attention to preparing to host the defending champion Buccaneers on Sunday at Peter Campbell Basketball Arena.

The two teams last met just two weeks ago in Geraldton where East Perth were able to hand the Buccs a first loss on their home floor in two years and to win in the venue for the first time since the championship year in 2014.

The Eagles will now attempt to replicate that performance at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre on Sunday at 12pm with the Buccaneers having played against the Cockburn Cougars the previous evening to start their double-header on the road.