NORTH Warrnambool Eagles are feeling vindicated in their youth-first approach as they begin to unearth long-term senior footballers.
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Eagles coach Graeme Twaddle said the club’s stunning one-point win over Hampden league flag favourite Koroit on Saturday justified their decision to invest in their next generation.
Teenagers Jackson Grundy, Tom Keast, Bailey Jenkinson, Sam James, Joe McKinnon and Jye O’Brien all featured against the reigning premier.
Tim O’Brien, Zac Bussell and Tyler Fowler, who are all 20, were also key performers.
The Eagles also have Tom James (knee), Sam McKinnon (foot) and Will Scriven (overseas), Liam Stow and Sam Worden waiting in the wings.
“We’re chuffed with the way they’re going about it,” Twaddle said.
“We talk to the boys a lot about playing a role. Sam James is a little more advanced than some of the other boys – he played his 50th senior game on the weekend, so he’s further in his development.
“Zac had a job on Jarrod Korewha and he was goalless so he did a sensational job, Tyler Fowler was fantastic and Jackson Grundy was sensational on a half-back line.”
Twaddle said the bottom-placed Eagles’ win, which ended a nine-game drought, was a stepping stone.
“We are not getting too far ahead of ourselves,” he said.
“We understand Koroit were a little off the boil but it’s a young group which got the job done and only just.
“The years of experience in the Koroit side compared to the years of experience in the North Warrnambool side (was vast) which was pleasing.”