Eagles Rd 2 Preview | Away v Mandurah

The East Perth Eagles hit the road for the first time in NBL1 West on Saturday evening to take on two high-powered Mandurah Magic teams with the women one of the 2025 fancies and the men the 2024 champions.

The Eagles opened the new season last Friday night at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre with an impressive win for the women against the defending champion Rockingham Flames while the men couldn't quite complete the winning evening.

Now eight days later and East Perth heads south to the Mandurah Aquatic and Recreation Centre to play the Magic with the women's encounter getting underway at 5pm followed by the men's match up at 7pm.

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The Eagles women made a statement start to the new season last week in Tim Symons' first game in charge as coach with the 87-70 win over the Flames that they will now look to take the momentum from in Mandurah on Saturday evening.

There was plenty to like in the win for the Eagles as they won the rebound count, took 10 extra field goal attempts, forced Rockingham into 18 turnovers and offered a glimpse into what the team of 2025 is going to be capable of while not yet at full strength.

Sasha Goodlett was a powerful presence inside with 23 points and 10 rebounds while new point guard Abby Cubillo was outstanding with 13 points, six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

There were plenty more contributors too with Awatea Leach delivering 15 points, nine boards and six assists, Taylor Roberts nine points, seven rebounds and three assists, captain Tessa Morrison nine points, five boards, three assists and three steals, and Madison Torresin nine points and five rebounds.

Now the next task for the Eagles is a Magic team who look like being capable of being one of the teams to beat in 2025 after missing out on finals as well in 2024.

Mandurah beat the Willetton Tigers at home 104-52 last Friday night with new arrivals Ally Wilson, McKenna Dale and Grace Berg along with returning locals Casey Mihovilovich, Rachel Halleen and Tiahna Palmer all playing key roles.

Before hosting East Perth on Saturday night, the Magic play the Lakeside Lightning on the road on Friday night and they won't have Wilson for that game after being in Australian Opals camp this week, but she could return to play the Eagles.

Eagles captain Morrison likes the feeling within the team early in the season and is looking forward to seeing how they take on the challenge of heading south to battle the Magic.

"The energy and vibes are high within our team, and personally I just can't wait to play another game with the squad that we have this season," Morrison said.

"Mandurah have added some extremely high calibre players, and are also coming off their first win but I am confident that if we play our game, focusing on our strengths we will come out on top."

The East Perth men then will attempt to record a first win for the 2025 season and the challenge that awaits is a Mandurah team on their home floor on the back of winning the championship last year.

Both teams suffered first up losses last Friday night to open the 2025 season with the Eagles going down at home to the Rockingham Flames by 21 points while the Magic were also on their home deck and went down in a grand final rematch to the Willetton Tigers by 14.

Now before the Magic host the Eagles on Friday night, they will take on Lakeside on the road on Friday night so they will either enter the clash on the back of a first win as defending champions or still looking for a first win of 2025.

It might not have been the opening night of the season the Eagles were hoping for, but captain Taylor Young rightfully remains in high spirits of what the group will be capable of.

It's a well-balanced and highly talented group too with a backcourt featuring himself, Fabian Johnson and Nic Filpo, and then new imports Max Rice and Matthew Lang largely filling the wing spots.

Chier Maker and Sharif Watson are then versatile as forwards to play inside or on the perimeter, and then there is big men pair Lee Roberts and Ioannis Dimakopoulos.

A loss for Young takes a long time for him to get over so it's going to have been a long eight days by the time of tip-off against the Magic on Saturday night, but he's confident in the Eagles bouncing back strongly.

"I'm looking forward to the game and I enjoy playing down there. The fans are kinda crazy and they say what they want from the stands down there and you get to feel the intensity of the game, and I'm sure they are itching for a win too and will bring their best," Young said.

"The good thing for us is that they play on Friday night first so hopefully we will be a bit fresher than them and we're able to get the jump on them early.

"But it just comes down to how we play and we have to focus on the game plan that Carl and the coaches put together, and actually do it for a whole game and hold each other accountable when somebody slips up.

"That's not in the way of cussing them out or anything, but coming together in a huddle to talk about what we need to do and then going to do it.

"We can only do so much talking, at some point we actually have to put it on the table for everybody else in the league to see. I can't wait for the game and to take out the frustration from last week."