Waalitj Marawar star Charlie Thomas ‘stoked’ to run out in Indigenous strip as Eagles search for strong finish

It’s been a record-breaking season for Waalitj Marawar, but the Eagles won’t be resting on their laurels ahead of a do-or-die Indigenous Round clash against Geelong. Geelong and Eagles are both technically still within mathematical contention for finals though would need to win their remaining games and have a host of other results go their way. With finals fate out of their hands Eagles star Charlie Thomas said the focus is on extracting as much as possible out of the remaining to rounds. “Obviously disappointed with the result last week but Freo were better on the day, but we move on pretty quickly and focus on Geelong this weekend,” she said. “It’d be very easy for us to sit back and relax now that we’ve made a bit of history and take the foot off the pedal but for us the focus is on finishing the season out really strongly. “We’ll put our best foot forward into terms of finals and then at the end we’ll be able to celebrate the season that was and then get to work on the next season.” The Eagles will be sporting a new look running out in the clubs Indigenous guernsey with Thomas going the extra mile painting the colours of the Aboriginal flag on her nails. “I absolutely love it, it’s a beautiful design I’m really proud to be wearing Loretta’s Egan’s work and super stoked to run out it,” she said. “It’s pretty special to be able to share the jumper with the men’s but it’s good we’re playing at home and get to wear the blue guernsey.” Geelong will also be wearing their Indigenous strip and are coming off their best win of the season taking down the reigning premiers Brisbane and welcome back midfield star Amy McDonald from a hamstring injury. “It looks amazing we were lucky to have Sherry [Johnstone] our guernsey artist chat to us this week and speak to us about how it connects to the land,” she said. “The hammy is going well, obviously had a few weeks on the sideline but more than happy to be back out their with the girls.” “It’d be great to build some momentum we know every game is finals like for us now.” The key to both teams’ fortunes maybe down Ella Roberts with the teen sensation often the barometer for the Eagles’ performances, however McDonald said the Cats will not be singling her out. “Ella is one of many of their pretty incredible players but we’re more focusing on our system and our structure and if we stick to that I’m pretty confident in what we’re able to produce.” Having been heavily tagged coach Daisy Pearce said it was learning experience for the team of when they need to give Roberts a chop out with Thomas saying it’s a balancing act. “When Ella is having a good game the team is having a good game and she’s a massive piece of our puzzle and when she’s getting tagged just getting around her and helping her beat her opponents,” she said. “We back her in to win one on one and she doesn’t necessarily need our help but just making sure we get around and do as much as we can to help her.” Waalitj Marawar will host Geelong Saturday October 26 at Mineral Resources Park with bouncedown at 3:05pm. West Coast will be known as Waalitj Marawar for AFLW Indigenous round.