East Perth Eagles is an NBL1 West club based in Perth, Western Australia. The club fields a team in both the Men's and Women's NBL1 West. The club is a division of East Perth District Basketball Association (EPDBA), the major administrative basketball organisation in Perth's north eastern suburbs. The Eagles play their home games at Morley Sport and Recreation Centre.
| East Perth Eagles | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leagues | NBL1 West |
| Founded | 1989 |
| History | Men: East Perth Eagles 1989–present Women: East Perth Eagles 1989–1995; 1997–present |
| Arena | Morley Sport and Recreation Centre |
| Location | Morley, Western Australia |
| Team colors | Blue, white, red |
| President | Mia Filpo |
| Vice-president(s) | Michel Bartier |
| Head coach | M: Carl Filpo W: Craig Allen |
| Championships | 1 |
| Website | EastPerthEagles.com.au |
Club history
editBackground
editEast Perth District Basketball Association (EPDBA) was established in 1946 as a founding member of the Western Australian Basketball Association.[1][2] The organisation was originally known as the Youth Catholic Workers (YCW) Highgate Basketball Club before being renamed Highgate Basketball Club in 1948.[2] In 1956, along with YMCA (Perth), Highgate was a founding member of the Women's Division of the Western Australian Basketball Association.[2]
In 1972, Highgate Basketball Club was given the task of combining all local basketball clubs in the East Perth Football Club's broad catchment area to form a 'District' Club. The organisation was subsequently renamed North Eastern Suburbs Basketball Association (NESBA), but later changed the name in 1975 to East Perth District Basketball Association to more accurately reflect the organisation's origins and the area represented.[2]
In the District Competition, East Perth's women's team won four straight premierships between 1977 and 1980 while the men's team won premierships in 1980, 1983 and 1988.[2]
SBL / NBL1 West
edit1989 saw the formation of the State Basketball League (SBL) with both a men's and women's competition. East Perth, trading as the Eagles, entered a team into both the Men's SBL and Women's SBL.[3] In the inaugural SBL season, both teams made the finals with the men finishing in sixth place with a 12–10 record, while the women finished in fourth place with a 14–7 record.[4] The Eagles struggled for wins across the 1990s and 2000s. The women's team went 0–20 in 1993 and 0–24 in 1998, and even sat out the 1996 season.[4] The club was initially suspended from the 2001 season due to on-court struggles and off-court issues,[5][6] but both teams were eventually reinstated and did participate in the 2001 season.[7]
At the conclusion of the 2009 season, the men had amassed an overall record of 150 wins and 362 losses (.293 winning percentage), while the women had amassed 78 wins and 356 losses (.180 winning percentage).[4] In 2010, both teams set winning records, with the women having their best season since 1989 with a fifth-place finish and a 14–8 record, while the men had their best season since 1998 with an eighth-place finish and a 13–13 record.[4]
In 2011, the women improved to third place with a club-best 16–6 record[8] after winning their last nine games of the regular season.[9] They advanced through to their first ever WSBL Grand Final,[10] where they were defeated 72–71 by the Willetton Tigers.[11]
In 2012, the men's team finished in fourth place with a team-best 16–10 record[4] and went on to reach their first ever MSBL Grand Final, where they were defeated 105–72 by the Cockburn Cougars. It was the largest losing margin in grand final history.[12]
In 2014, the Eagles returned to the MSBL Grand Final[13] behind a line-up of captain Drew Williamson, Tom Jervis, Sunday Dech, Kyle Armour, Joe-Alan Tupaea and Mathiang Muo. Despite finishing in seventh place with a 14–12 record,[14] the Eagles went on to defeat the Rockingham Flames 2–1 in the quarter-finals before sweeping the Perth Redbacks in the semi-finals.[15] In the grand final, the Eagles won their maiden championship with a 99–83 victory over the Geraldton Buccaneers, with Tupaea earning grand final MVP for his 12 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists.[16][17]
In 2021, the SBL was rebranded as NBL1 West.[18][19]
In 2024, the Eagles returned to a redeveloped Morley Sport and Recreation Centre after five years playing at Herb Graham Recreation Centre in Mirrabooka.[20]
Accolades
editWomen
- Championships: Nil
- Grand Final appearances: 1 (2011)
- Minor premierships: Nil
Men
- Championships: 1 (2014)
- Grand Final appearances: 2 (2012, 2014)
- Minor premierships: Nil
References
edit- ^ "Sponsorship and Corporate Opportunities". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "Eagle History". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ "SBL Standings 1989". CockburnCougars.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
- ^ a b c d e "2015 SBL Media Guide". SportsTG.com. p. 13. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ "Eagles, Raiders not to compete in 2001". goldencity.com.au. 15 December 2000. Archived from the original on 28 April 2001. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- ^ "Helen Nicholls' 2001 WSBL preview". goldencity.com.au. 2 February 2001. Archived from the original on 19 April 2001. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- ^ "Our men's predictions for 2001". goldencity.com.au. 19 March 2001. Archived from the original on 19 April 2001. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
- ^ Kagi, Jacob (27 July 2011). "WSBL Power Rankings". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ Kagi, Jacob (27 July 2011). "Mandurah trying for first title as playoffs begin (WSBL Finals Week One Preview)". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ Kagi, Jacob (24 August 2011). "WSBL Grand Final Preview Willetton v East Perth". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 5 September 2018.
- ^ Gartner, Anne (30 August 2011). "Late bucket ends Eagles' hopes". CommunityNews.com.au. Guardian Express. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016.
- ^ Ferguson, Frizz (2 September 2012). "Cougars claim SBL championship". Yahoo.com. The West Australian. Archived from the original on 7 April 2016.
- ^ Hope, Shayne (30 August 2014). "Heartbreak the spur for Eagles". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 14 March 2017.
- ^ Pike, Chris (1 August 2014). "Men's Quarter Finals Week 1 SBL Preview". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ Pike, Chris (29 August 2014). "Men's SBL Grand Final Preview". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
- ^ Pike, Chris (30 August 2014). "East Perth Eagles win first men's SBL championship". SportsTG.com. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "Tupaea named 2014 Grand Final MVP". SportsTG.com. 31 August 2014. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ "NBL1 West to tip off in 2021". NBL1.com.au. 30 October 2020. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ Garlepp, Josh (30 October 2020). "State Basketball League to become NBL 1 West as WA clubs agree to unite under national second-tier banner". TheWest.com.au. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
- ^ "Eagles begin new era by returning to Morley". NBL1.com.au. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 6 April 2024.