Write them off.

Billings' side - which will be led by the talented midcourter again in 2022 - will carry its siege mentality into next season as it pushes for a Hampden league finals appearance.

The Eagles finished fifth in 2021 but the league's decision to reduce its finals to a four-club, two-week campaign on the back of a COVID-19 lockdown meant they missed out.

"With COVID, it was probably a sealer (in coaching again) as I didn't get what I wanted from the year," Billings said.

"I put a bit more expectations on myself in the way of coaching. Being given the opportunity to coach again in 2022 was kind of a bit of a surprise that the club offered it to me but it was something I was excited to take on.

"I took on the role very last minute at the start of this season so for the club to approach me now, it gives me a little bit of time to plan to put a bit of time and effort for where I want to the girls to go in 2022." Billings was proud of her side's efforts in 2021 but felt there was still upside to unlock.

"The girls have taken on everything I've asked. I think I read somebody put us down to finish eighth and that was a goal to prove that and the public wrong that we were better than what most people predicted us to be," she said.

"This year we had a few injuries with the up-and-down season, which didn't help, but once we did get a full side together we did gel as a team and the girls just grew in leaps and bounds.

"We'll want to get a few full weeks together before the start of next season so that we're gelling for the start of the season."

Billings said the Bushfield-based club would try to be strategic on the recruiting front but would welcome new players. "We'll try to do some recruiting but I'm not big on poaching players because usually if you've started at one club, most players tend to stay there all the way through," she said.

"If we know there are people looking to move around and we can offer them something or they'll fit in well, we'll always be there for that."

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