Eaglehawk signs Strikers goaler

EAGLEHAWK has been quick to strengthen its playing list for the 2026 BFNL season, signing Bendigo Strikers VNL goaler Mia McCrann-Peters.

The 22-year-old joins the Hawks after two seasons with rival club Golden Square, in a move that reunites her with her former Strikers teammate Chloe Langley.

McCrann-Peters and Langley were partners in the goal circle for the Strikers’ 23-and-under team in their inaugural season in the VNL competition in 2024.

Langley, who made the move to Canterbury Park last off-season, continued as a training partner with the Strikers’ championship team this season, while McCrann-Peters was joint runner-up in the 23-and-under best and fairest behind defender Eliza Mooney.

It was a second consecutive top two placing in the 23-and-under best and fairest award for McCrann-Peters, who was runner-up behind Shae Clifford in 2024.

Hawks coach Jannelle Hobbs said the new recruits would add significant experience and quality to a predominantly young line-up.

“Mia will work well with Chloe having obviously played VNL together; they’ve got a good connection,” she said.

“That will really strengthen our attack end.

“They were at South (Bendigo) together for a short time, but in different teams.

“Mia’s game has gone to another level since joining Strikers.

“She’s a great pick up for us – really great under pressure and a high-volume goaler.

“It’s exciting to get another player in who has played at that high-calibre-level.

“I feel we need a bit more experience.”

Highly regarded by the Strikers, McCrann-Peters will step up to the club’s championship team for the first time in 2026.

The Hawks look unlikely to lose any of last season’s A-grade team, with the re-signings of several players, including best and fairest winner Allira Holmes, classy midcourter and runner-up best and fairest Gracie Berryman, dual best and fairest winner Morgan Keating and Eden Clifford.

Hobbs pinpointed the midcourt as an area of the court she would like to bolster.

“We had a super-young midcourt and they did a great job – Eden and Darcey Lloyd in there – but ideally we want to get a bit more experience in there,” she said.

“We’ve been talking to three or four very strong middies.

“We’ll know more in the next four or five weeks and after our tryouts start in November.

“Our defence is strong, but I wouldn’t mind a little bit more height as well.

“Tall defenders are hard to come by and I’m happy with what we have in there.

“Probably the key this year was not having as much depth as we’d like; we did have a few injuries, which disrupted A-reserve.

“Depth is an area we’d like to boost as well.”

On the Hawks’ 2025 season, Hobbs declared their fifth-place finish and lone finals appearance as a solid foundation to build on.

“We had a very young side and look like keeping everyone, so from here we’d like to strengthen,” she said.

“Hopefully, we will have a few more recruits to announce soon.

“We want to do better than an elimination final.

“To bring Mia in and hopefully announce a few others, it’s an exciting time.

“That said, everyone’s improving – you have to to keep up.