Eagles celebrate dream team

Two Ipswich Eagles players combine to stop a Griffith Moorooka opponent from securing the ball during Saturday’s match at Limestone Park. Ipswich won by 92 points.

Claudia Baxter

IPSWICH team of the decade captain Luke Konstanciak would love to lead the elite side named on Saturday night.

The best Eagles side from the past 10 years included players with more than 100 games experience. The super side also featured some of Ipswich’s toughest, most loyal, versatile and respected Aussie rules footballers.

While the Eagles team which played Griffith Moorooka on Saturday lacked some of those big name players, the current crop showed plenty of heart on a special weekend for the club.

In outclassing Griffith Moorooka 22.11-143 to 7.9-51 at Limestone Park, the Eagles launched a memorable party at the Civic Centre.

“We’re only a young club but it’s good that everyone’s turned out,” Konstanciak said.

“It would be great to have them (team of decade players) each week.”

The Eagles club was established in 2001, after formerly being RAAF Eagles and Ipswich Cats for many years prior to that.

Some of the club’s Old Boys watched Saturday’s game.

Konstanciak has been with the club each of its 10 years, accumulating more than 150 games, along with his brother Lance and stalwarts Kym Mansell and Ryan Mcallister.

The loyal captain showed he still had leadership skills by kicking six goals on Saturday.

He was well supported by Brett Nairn (also with six) and Kyle McHardy (three).

Ironically, Saturday afternoon’s Griffith Moorooka mentor was Mick Rush, the coach of Ipswich’s team of the decade. Rush guided the Eagles through five of its most successful seasons before offering to help the new merger club develop.

“I’d be very happy to get that team out each week,” Rush said.

“There were good memories helping pick the side because I coached many of them back in the early days.

“We played finals in four of the five years and made a couple of grand finals and minor premierships.

“With a bit of luck, we should have won one.”

Current Eagles coach Mark Kennedy was delighted how his team lifted on Saturday to keep its slender finals hopes alive. “It was a great win. That’s the best we’ve played all year,” Kennedy said.

“We trained ordinary through the week. Our skills were pretty poor but we turned it around.”

The Eagles Reserves added to the club celebration by beating Griffith Moorooka 9.6-60 to 5.5-35.

Eagles club president Ray Flux was delighted more than 80 guests attended Saturday night’s function.

Each person chosen in the team of the decade received a plaque and copy of the side as a memento.

Four members of the elite team – Konstanciak, Rush, Mansell and Mcallister – were also given life memberships.
 

Team of decade

The best Ipswich side from players 2001-2010:

Backs: David Waller, Ryan Mcallister, Murray Woodcroft.

Halfbacks: Matthew Gordon, Conan Sternberg, Chris Devlin.

Centres: Darren Norwood, Lucas Rodman, Leon Spurton.

Half forwards: Glen Wright, Milan Kutija, James Albest.

Forwards: Paul Schoormans, Darren Hoare, Michael Lugg.

Followers: Mark Callander, Luke Konstanciak (captain), Mark Kennedy.

Interchange: Matt Schoormans, Kym Mansell, Nathan Macklin, Aaron Fortescue.

Coach: Mick Rush.