The Eagles dominated the division in 2025-26, seeing off all challengers in the regular season to finish unbeaten, and it was more of the same on Saturday and Sunday as they dispatched the Blues by 205 runs in the semi-final to book their spot in the decider this weekend at Kings Park.
Finishing atop the ladder at the end of the regular season – by some margin, too - meant the Eagles played for their spot in the grand final against fourth-placed Kilmore in a two-day clash at the weekend, one they would have gone into full of confidence given they had comfortably accounted for the Blues on both occasions they had squared off this season.
Winning the toss and electing to bat, Eagles openers Billy Cox and Dean Fulco strode out to the middle at Kings Park on Saturday and proceeded to give Eastern Hill just about the best start imaginable as they patiently prodded the ball around while accumulating runs for fun.
With seven boundaries to his name, Cox was the first to raise the bat for a fine 50, although it wouldn’t be much more than that, as he was also the first to fall, dismissed for 56 but departing with the Eagles in a solid position at 1-88 and having seen off the new ball.
Fulco remained at the crease and was joined by Benjamin Bryant, with the duo continuing to grind the Kilmore bowlers into the ground.
Fulco soon joined Cox in raising the bat for a half-century, although his included just a single boundary, as he and Bryant safely saw the Eagles beyond the 150-run milestone.
The brilliant stand, which yielded 77 runs and frustrated the Kilmore attack for 19 overs, eventually came to an end, with Fulco dismissed following a remarkable 55 from 151 deliveries, with his departure leaving the Eagles at 2-165 at the end of the 53rd over.
Bryant, on the other hand, was scoring freely, belting 10 fours and a six as he raced beyond his half-century, eventually sent packing for 71, as the Eagles sat comfortably at 3-194 with 20 overs remaining in the innings following brilliant efforts from each of their top three batters.
Handy contributions from Nathan Fowler (24) and Ollie Bryant (41) down the order saw the run rate pick up considerably as the overs wound down, with the Eagles scoring at five runs per over across the final 20 overs to reach a mammoth total of 7-307 by stumps on Saturday.
Perhaps the only batter that would have been disappointed with his individual total on Saturday would have been Oscar Newell, who managed just 10 with the willow, however, he more than made up for that when tossed the ball on Sunday.
While Benjamin Bryant found the initial breakthrough for the Eagles in the 14th over to reduce the Blues to 1-13, Kilmore fought back, adding 55 for the second wicket and denying the Eagles any further wickets for 22 overs.
That is, until Newell struck.
Breaking the partnership in the 36th over with his first scalp of the day to leave the visitors at 2-68, Newell struck again in the 40th to add a second, while his third and fourth wickets came in his following over, as the Blues collapsed to 5-73.
The floodgates had opened and Newell’s teammates got in on the act too, with Daniel O’Sullivan earning his first wicket to see Kilmore slump even further to 6-75, and while the Blues tried to rally, adding 16 runs for the seventh wicket, their efforts proved futile.
In the space of five deliveries, Newell decimated the visiting lower order, snaring another three wickets to see Kilmore collapse from 6-91 to 9-94, and bringing his figures to a ridiculous 7-16 from 11 overs, proving virtually unplayable all afternoon in a scintillating display.
He couldn’t add an eighth, though, as O’Sullivan (2-24) mopped up the final wicket to hand Eastern Hill a monster victory and with it a spot in the decider, which will see them play off against Diggers Rest Bulla Village this Saturday and Sunday at Kings Park.
Punching their grand final ticket also ensures the Eagles’ first 11 will get their chance to make amends for grand final heartbreak last season, having finished second on the ladder before going down to Wallan in the decider by seven wickets.
Recent results are on their side, too, having defeated the Burras by 47 runs in their most recent meeting, while their first outing earlier in the season was abandoned, although the Eagles had posted a total of 264 in the first innings.
It will be an identical match-up in the Johnstone Shield seconds grand final, too, as the Eagles will face off against the Burras following a nail-biting victory in their semi-final over East Sunbury.
A century to Harvey Hager (113) set the foundations for a big total of 7-275 for Eastern Hill, who opted to bat first at Kings Park on Saturday, while 59 to Tayte Hoefchen was also invaluable.
A brilliant battle between bat and ball ensued as the Eagles attempted to defend their total, which came down to the final over.
The Eagles needed one wicket to win, while East Sunbury needed six runs, and while they managed two off the first two deliveries, Fraser Lewis played the hero for the Eagles, snaring the winning wicket with three balls remaining to send the Eagles into the decider.
Both the Eastern Hill First and Second XI grand finals will be played at Kings Park this Saturday and Sunday against Diggers Rest Bulla Village, with the first ball to be bowled at 12.30pm on Saturday.
