It's been a case of so close yet so far in the past decade. There's been two runner-up finishes - both to Koroit - and an additional three preliminary final berths.

Since 2011, the Bushfield-based club has only missed the finals once.

That was in 2018 when it collected the wooden spoon. It was an aberration.

Twelve months later, with master coach Adam Dowie at the helm, the Eagles soared into a grand final.

Now, having lost the best part of two seasons to COVID-19 restrictions, they are primed to go one step better.

Leigh McCluskey coached the Eagles for five seasons from 2006-10 when the likes of Matthew Wines and Tom Batten were coming through.

That duo is now among the team's most experienced players.

McCluskey said it would be wonderful to see them with premiership medallions around their necks and for long-serving volunteers to taste success.

"With players like Tom and Matthew still there, they might get another two years out of them and they'd be happy to win one in that time you would think," he told The Standard.

McCluskey said a premiership would be special for a wide-range of people.

"I know how hard it was back then. Gee whiz, it was very hard on the poor old supporters and the committee members who put a lot of work in behind the scenes," he said.

"It would be just fantastic for them to see one. I suppose all your success is measured by premierships but they'd be happy to see the club well-established now."

McCluskey said pieces of the puzzle were falling into place.

It's hard to disagree.

The addition of Nathan Vardy - a ruckman straight out the AFL system - is a coup.

His presence will daunt the opposition and give the Eagles' midfielders, such as Maskell Medallist Jett Bermingham, Sam James and Matthew Wines, first use.

Vardy joins his brother-in-law Billie Smedts and Dion Johnstone at the club. Those two returned to the Eagles' nest after stints in the AFL too.

Smedts and Johnstone can play a variety of roles. And hit the scoreboard too.

Bermingham was a revelation in the shortened 2021 season.

His eye-catching displays helped him to three consecutive best-on-ground performances to finish the season and become one of the league's youngest best-and-fairest winners.

The likes of Bailey Jenkinson, Jackson Grundy, Joe McKinnon and Harry and Tom Keast join Bermingham as influential next generation players.

Then there's the experience of Batten, Jordan Dillon, Adam Wines and Jarryd Lewis.

McCluskey, who was disappointed the 2021 finals series was lost to COVID-19 with Koroit, North Warrnambool and South Warrnambool all capable of winning the flag, said the Eagles had compiled a balanced list.

"They have been very smart. Of course Adam (Dowie) is always very smart," he said.

"They are getting players from out of town but relying on developing their young players as well and that is a key.

"If you develop young players and ideally keep them that's the secret, if there is one.

"If you have a look at their young players, they would have a few games under their belt now.

"They have probably played enough games where they're not going to encounter anything they haven't encountered already so you would think they would adjust to anything that was thrown at them."

Time will tell.

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