North Warrnambool Eagles cast eyes forward following first defeat

Port Fairy was the first side to overcome the Eagles this season after they recorded 14 wins and a draw to storm into top spot and flag favouritism.

The first-year Eagle said his side knew exactly what it needed to improve to be able to go one step better than its runners-up performance in 2016.

"We know where we need to get to and our destiny is in our own hands," he said after the nine-point defeat.

"If we play Port Fairy in a final and it's wet and muddy then we will come back and review it but our aim is Hamilton so when we watch footage on Tuesday night it won't be reviewing what happened.

READ MORE:

"It will be about what happened last time... we have moved on (from the loss) but the focus turns to Hamilton pretty quickly."

The Eagles have one hand on the minor premiership with two rounds to go.

Koroit and Warrnambool are six points behind and would need Dowie's side to suffer two unlikely slip ups against the Kangaroos and South Warrnambool to see them drop from first.

One win and the Eagles would complete a massive turn-around from wooden spooners to league leaders in under a year.

Mitch Bowman, who rolled his ankle in Saturday's loss, Billie Smedts, Jarryd Lewis and Tom O'Leary are all expected to play in the Kangaroos clash.

Have you signed up to The Standard's daily newsletter and breaking news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in the south-west.