'It wouldn't be viable': Eagles forced to cancel Tourist Hotel Cup

"With the rain coming this afternoon and tonight, and more scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, the weather's just not going to hold out for us," Carberry said.

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"So we've had to cancel it."

Eight teams, comprised of players from six clubs, were scheduled to participate in the annual pre-season tournament, which many use as an opportunity to sharpen up prior to the first round in April.

Gunnedah, Goondiwindi, Moree, and Narrabri had teams set to play in the men's division, while sides from Gunnedah, Goondiwindi, Inverell, and a combined Tamworth Kangaroos and Moree outfit were scheduled to appear in the women's competition.

And though Carberry and the rest of the Eagles committee were confident that the competition would go ahead early this week, the sheer volume of rain that has fallen in the last 24 hours forced them to call it off on short notice.

"At start of the week, the outlook didn't look too bad," Carberry said.

"So we were definitely all guns blazing until about yesterday, and had everything finalised and we were ready to go. Then the rain predictions started to increase.

"We can't facilitate sheltering everybody and our bar and food that we were going to have down there, it wouldn't be viable for them either."

Ultimately, although the decision was a difficult one for the Eagles to make, Carberry said the weather left the club with no other option.

"It is disappointing, and it's a decision I didn't want to have to make, but after talking to the committee, that's what's going to have to happen," he said.

The AFL North West competition released its draw for the 2022 season last week. The first round is currently scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 30.

The full fixtures for the season can be viewed here.

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