Eagles Rd 6 Preview | Away v Buccs

Image credit: Mark Filpo (@codexdesignstudio)

The last time the East Perth Eagles hit the road to play the Geraldton Buccaneers it was a drought breaking win to savour on the way to an NBL1 West finals return, and now the goal is to repeat the dose this Saturday night.

It's just the Eagles men in action in Round 6 of the 2025 NBL1 West season as they made the road trip to Geraldton to play the Buccaneers at Active West Stadium with the game tipping off at 7pm.

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While the Eagles come into the clash having won just one of five games so far this season up against a Buccaneers team having won four of their six, East Perth does have fond memories from the last visit to Geraldton.

It was Round 7 last year when the Eagles made the corresponding road trip and when they arrived they had not beaten the Buccaneers on their home floor since the 2014 season that ended up also with the two teams playing in the grand final with East Perth victorious.

The Eagles had lost nine straight times in Geraldton since then and had also lost 15 in-a-row against the Buccaneers overall having not beaten them since 2016, but that all changed in Round 7 last year with the stirring 15-point victory.

Not only did it end a drought for the Eagles against the Buccs, but it was also the end of a 19-game winning streak at home for the Buccaneers that had stretched back over almost two years.

Now the Eagles head to Geraldton this Saturday night looking to get a win that could very well be the kickstart to their season last year's win was when they went on to make a return to the finals for the first time since winning the 2014 championship.

The Eagles currently sit on a 1-4 record and are coming off a tough loss to the undefeated Warwick Senators last Friday night at home.

East Perth will still be without captain and starting point guard Taylor Young with a hamstring injury, but Matthew Lang and Nick Filpo have been stepping up in the back court in his absence.

The Eagles take on a Buccaneers team yet to lose in their two home games this season against the Perth Redbacks and Kalamunda Eastern Suns by a combined 67 points so it is a significant challenge that lies ahead.

Geraldton has come into the 2025 high on motivation after finishing last season four games clear in top spot but then losing at home in the preliminary final to the Willetton Tigers.

It's a Buccs team still featuring Nik DeSantis, Johny Narkle, Aaron Ralph, Mat Wundenberg and Liam Hunt but who has also strengthened their roster with the additions of Akeem Springs and Verle Williams.

It's a first trip to Geraldton for first-year East Perth guard Matthew Lang is looking forward to his first experience of what is likely the most hostile atmosphere across the NBL1.

"I’ve heard it’s a tough place to play — loud crowd, physical game — so I’m expecting a real battle," Lang said.

"We’re going in locked in and focused on executing our game plan. It’s a chance to make a statement and get things moving in the right direction."