THEY admit such a long journey is ‘not ideal’ but West Coast Eagles are ready to embrace next month’s trip to Narrandera.
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The Eagles will hit the Riverina for the first time as part of the AFL pre-season clash at Narrandera Sportsground on February 18, where they will play Greater Western Sydney (GWS).
It will be a long trek from Perth for the Eagles squad. The club plans to fly to Wagga, stay and then bus it to Narrandera.
West Coast general manager of football, Craig Vozzo, conceded that a trip across the country was not the club’s first choice destination.
“The first (pre-season fixture), to Narrandera. I think it’s about a five-hour flight to country NSW, which on top of our existing flight schedule in season is not what you would ideally want. But it is what it is,” Vozzo told the club’s website.
“I think we’re staying in Wagga and we’ve got an hour and 10 (minutes) to the ground from Wagga by bus. So that’s not the ideal start but it’s just something that we have to do, bring the footy to the country and to all people is the mandate so we’ll have to be part of that.”
West Coast will not be at full-strength with first choice ruck combination Nic Natanui and Scott Lycett both out injured.
Big-name recruits Sam Mitchell and Drew Petrie may make their first appearances for the Eagles in Narrandera.