Sorell Football Club

{{distinguish|East Coast Eagles}} {{Short description|Australian rules football club}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2018}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2018}} {{Infobox Australian football club | color1 = #003087 | color2 = #FFCD00 | color3 = solid #FFCD00 | image = Sorell_Football_Club_Logo.png | image size = 125 | clubname = Sorell Football Club | fullname = Sorell Football Club Inc. | nicknames = ''Eagles'' | clubsong = "We Are The Mighty Sorell Team" | season = 2025 | afterfinals = 5th | home&away = 5th | topgoalkicker = Jacob Sawford (43) | bestandfairest = | founded = {{Start date and age|1883}} | dissolved = | colours = {{colorbox|#003087}} {{colorbox|gold}} | league = Southern Football League | ground = Pembroke Park (capacity: 1000) | formerground = Sorell Showground (Until 1966) Sorell Memorial Oval (1967-1991) | president = Robbie Iles | coach = Simon Harris | captain = Adrian Butterworth / Alexander Jones | premierships = ''' TAFL Southern Division''' (3) {{hlist|1966|1983|1990}} ''' South Eastern District FA''' (3){{hlist|1960|1961|1962}} ''' Clarence Sub-Districts FA''' (1) {{hlist|1952}} ''' Pembroke FA ''' (3){{hlist|1937|1938|1939}} | logo = | logo_caption = | kit_alt1 = | pattern_b1 = _wceagles19h | pattern_sh1 = | pattern_so1 = _goldtop | body1 = 003087 | shorts1 = 003087 | socks1 = 003087 | pattern_name1 =  | kit_alt2 = | pattern_b2 = _wceagles19h | pattern_sh2 = | pattern_so2 = _goldtop | body2 = 003087 | shorts2 = ffffff | socks2 = 003087 | pattern_name2 =  }} The '''Sorell Football Club''', nicknamed the '''Eagles''', is an Australian rules football club currently playing in the SFL Community League in Tasmania, Australia. From 1996–1999, it was known as the '''East Coast Eagles'''.<ref name = Eagles>{{Cite news |last=Bresnehan J |date=2 May 1996 |title=West Coast stars to join local Eagles' fun day |work=The Mercury |id={{Gale|A101214238}} |url = https://go.gale.com/ps/anonymous?id=GALE%7CA101214238|url-access=subscription|access-date = 20 May 2026}}</ref>

The club is based in the semi-rural township of Sorell 27 km east of Hobart and recruits from many small towns in its district. They play their home matches at Pembroke Park, where they have been based since 1992.

== History == ===1883-1995=== The Sorell Football Club was founded in 1883 and originally played in several competitions including the Sorell FA, Pembroke FA, Clarence Sub-Districts FA, East Coast FA and the South Eastern District FA until 1962. In 1963 the Eagles joined the TAFL (Southern Division) where they won three premiership titles in 1966, 1983 and their most recent premiership in 1990, they remained a member of that competition until the League collapsed at the end of the 1995 season.

In 1967 Sorell Racecourse Ground, where the club played home games, was destroyed in the 1967 Tasmanian fires. In 1967 the Club started playing home games at Sorell Memorial Oval, until 1991 when they moved to Pembroke Park (which stands on the same same site formerly occupied by Sorell Racecourse Ground).

===1996-2020=== In 1996 Sorell switched from playing in their traditional Red, White, and Black playing uniform to a West Coast Eagles-style Blue and Gold uniform which they still use. The team was also breifly renammed the East Coast Eagles until 1999.<ref name = Eagles /> Since 1996 Sorell have been a member of the STFL/SFL and were a participating club in the SFL Regional League when the competition split into two divisions (2002-2008) apart from 2002 when the club played in the SFL Premier League{{cn|date=May 2026}} and in 2003 when the club went into recess for one season due to a lack of volunteers to run the club before rejoining the Regional League in 2004.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Stockdale |first=David |date=7 May 2003 |title=Sorell Eagles must decide to fly or die. |access-date=20 May 2026 |work=The Mercury |id={{Gale|A102602534}} |url = https://go.gale.com/ps/anonymous?id=GALE%7CA102602534|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

Sorell's time in the SFL has seen little success; the Eagles' have made the finals a number of times and participated in two grand finals which resulted in a 77-point drubbing at the hands of Cygnet in 2004 and a narrow 10-point loss to South-Eastern rival, Dodges Ferry in 2006.

===2020s=== {{Confusing|date=May 2026}} {{Promotional section|date=May 2026}} In 2025 they fielded a team of every type,{{Clarify|date=May 2026}} with the seniors finishing 5th and losing to the two blues,{{Clarify|date=May 2026}} the women missed the finals and the reserves made it to a preliminary final, only to lose by 1 point to Huonvile 6.9(45) to Sorell 6.8(44).Their colts team{{Clarify|date=May 2026}} met a similar fate after their 23-point win over rivals Hobart in a Friday night elimination final, they faced their demons{{Clarify|date=May 2026}} in the preliminary final after losing the last encounter 115-6 they played all day{{Clarify|date=May 2026}} and led with 3 minutes left only to draw 7.5(47) all. Unfortunately they went out in extra time and it was Huonville who lost the grand final by a goal.{{Clarify|date=May 2026}}

==Club Records== '''Entered STFL/SFL''' 1996

'''STFL/SFL Premierships''' Nil

'''STFL/SFL Runner Up''' 2004, 2006

'''TAFL (Southern Division) Premierships''' 1966, 1983, 1990

'''State Amateur Premierships – Condor Shield''' 1966

'''South Eastern District FA Premierships''' 1960, 1961, 1962

'''Clarence Sub-Districts FA Premierships''' 1952

'''Pembroke FA Premierships''' 1937, 1938, 1939

==Player Records== '''Walter Howard Medal winners''' (Best and fairest player in the TAFL (Southern Division) 1968 – Graeme Jones 1982 – Lindsey White 1987 – Lindsey White 1988 – Michael Waller 1990 – Michael Waller 1991 – M. Kerslake

'''Games record holder''' Mark Clothier (410 games)

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.southernfootballleague.com.au/ Southern Football League]

Category:Australian rules football clubs in Tasmania Category:1883 establishments in Australia Category:Australian rules football clubs established in 1883