The West Coast Eagles welcomed their Silver Beneath our Wings members to a sundowner function at Domain Stadium to celebrate their 20-years of membership with the club last Wednesday.
These members joined the club in 1998 – John Worsfold’s final year as a player and Mick Malthouse’s final season as senior coach – when the club finished seventh before being knocked out by the Western Bulldogs in an the elimination final.
MC Glen Jakovich shared a few stories with the room about several infamous Western Derby match-ups and Woosha’s love of the cross-town battle before welcoming West Coast Eagles general manager of communications Gary Stocks to the stage.
Stocks, a long-time servant of the club, enjoyed some back-and-forth with Jakovich about their time together at West Coast and interactions while he was a reporter for The West Australian.
Stocks touched on the club’s current form and chances of making finals this year. He also shared a few derby memories and revealed that it takes him at least three weeks to get over a Derby loss.
He later discussed the proud history of the club while promoting his recently released Flying High II book, which celebrates the first 30 years of the West Coast Eagles Football Club.
After some questions from the crowd, Stocks handed the microphone over to the function’s second guest of the evening, midfield development coach Luke Dwyer.
A four-time University Amateur Football Club premiership coach, Dwyer discussed in detail what he had learned during his first year working at the club.
As a mentor to some of our emerging Eagles, Dwyer provided some insight about a few of our future midfield stars.
The third and final guest for the evening was someone well known and loved by members young and old, Auzzie the Eagle and her handler Yvonne, from the WA Birds of Prey Centre.
Yvonne talked members through Auzzie’s rigorous training schedulewhich includes early-morning trainings sessions at Domain Stadium and a pre-season schedule that usually beings in November.
She also discussed the special bond between herself and Auzzie, who as an imprinted bird relies on humans to survive. Auzzie loves being handled by Yvonne but wasn’t a fan of Sam Newman when she made her Footy Show debut, much to the room’s delight.
Questions were flying thick and fast from our guests for Yvonne and Auzzie, who were more than happy to answer queries. In response to the big question everyone was wondering, Yvonne hoped Auzzie will fly at the Perth Stadium. However, she maintains it is completely up to Auzzie herself.
Jakovich announced the door prize winners – who took home a 2017 team-signed guernsey, 2017 team signed Sherrin and coach/captain signed hat – at the completion of the sundowner.
The West Coast Eagles would like to thank our members for their commitment and continued support of the club.
If you would like more information about the club’s Beneath our Wings program, please visit https://membership.westcoasteagles.com.au/beneath-our-wings-0
