Edgeworth skipper Josh Evans has backed the club's winning mentality to rise to the fore in Sunday's grand final against Maitland and beyond as the Eagles look to keep their dynasty alive.
The Eagles have overcome the shock loss of coach Damian Zane to arch rivals Broadmeadow on the eve of the season, and the exit of replacement Keelan Hamilton three weeks later, to claim a fifth premiership and sixth grand final appearance in the past six years.
They enter Sunday's Northern NSW NPL decider at No.2 Sportsground as favourites to claim a fourth championship in six years.
The success, with star player Josh Rose taking the helm, has come despite a battle behind the scenes to keep players loyal to Zane.
The Eagles gained a boost recently with young attacker Will Bower re-signing. Bower was among those rumoured to be joining Broadmeadow. His decision leaves Jose Atayde and potentially Keanu Moore as those expected to link with Magic.
Evans, who was man of the match in Edgeworth's 2-0 grand final win over Maitland last year, said the Eagles' success was a credit to the club, the players and Rose.
"With everything going on off the park, to keep, I dare say, 90 per cent of the players is a great effort by the club," Evans said. "We obviously really value our players at Edgeworth and we've had a lot of success, so to keep 90 per cent is brilliant.
"But as we know, when you have a good coach leave, you're going to have good players leave as well.
"To be in the position we are, after having a couple of coaches, and for Rosey to keep us kicking on and keep us focused, to have this success is a credit to Rosey. He's done an amazing job.
"I think the culture at Edgeworth, it's a winning mentality. Rosey has tried to keep that instilled, even with the loss of the coach, and we're just trying to keep that going.
"We lose players every year, but if we can just keep that culture going, that's where we want to head."
Rose said the retention of Bower "was a good result for the club" and he had stayed "in close contact with those boys".
"Obviously it was very tough for them," Rose said.
"They obviously love the club and it was a big decision for them to make, but I made sure I was in close contact with them, just reassuring them, giving them advice.
"There's always a lot weighing on your mind with that stuff. I tried to make sure they put it to the side."
Bower has been an injury concern for Edgeworth and sat out their 4-2 trial loss to the Central Coast last week.
Rose said Bower was "touch and go early in the week" but trained well on Thursday night and "will be good to go" on Sunday.
He was expected to come into the starting side, along with Dylan Holz, who scored twice off the bench in the major semi-final win over Broadmeadow.
Tyson Jackson (back) was another in doubt but Rose said he had also trained strongly. Back-up keeper Josh Low suffered a head knock and cut in the Mariners match and had to have a concussion test but Rose expected him to be in the squad.
"The boys are relaxed," Rose said on Friday. "It's funny. It doesn't really feel like grand final week, which is good. It's business as usual."
A bye then two weeks off in the finals have meant Edgeworth have played just two competition games in the past six weeks. Maitland have had just one week off in a six-game winning streak to make the decider.
Evans said the Mariners friendly, played in warm conditions last Saturday, had helped keep the Eagles sharp.
"It can be hard," he said of the weeks off. "Match fitness is one thing but I guess it's a balance between staying fit and being ready to go. You don't want to have complacency so I think the game on the weekend definitely put us back in good stead."
He said the 2-1 loss to Maitland in round 12, where Edgeworth led into the final few minutes, was fresh in the Eagles' minds heading into Sunday.
"We played for a good 85 minutes and then obviously switched off for the last five, so I think just to stay focused for the whole game is the thing for us," he said.
"We know if we switch off, we're going to lose. That happened last week for Broadmeadow. A couple of mistakes and they got a few goals, so that's our focus."
Eagles striker Kristian Brymora, who tied Maitland's Braedyn Crowley for the league's scoring title on 13 goals in the regular season, is another who could be playing their last game for Edgeworth. Brymora is heading to Brisbane for trials but could return to the club.
Former Olympic midfielder Jake McGuinness is already an addition to the Eagles for next year under incoming coach Lee Sterrey.
