by Ben Waterworth (@bjwaterworth)
COACHING is a tough gig, particularly if you are a Division 1 coach in the EFL.
One of the most challenging and intimidating conundrums a Division 1 coach faces each week is stopping, or curbing the influence, of the competition’s best players.
Despite leading Balwyn to back-to-back premierships in 2012 and 2013, it is a conundrum that has led to many sleepless nights for coach Daniel Donati.
But the sleeping patterns of the Tigers’ coach have dramatically improved over the past month.
DETAILS: EFL v VAFA | 3.35PM ON 29 MARCH | VISY PARK
CONOR’S PREDICTED INTERLEAGUE TEAM
Donati, who has been appointed the EFL’s senior coach for the league’s clash against the VAFA in the AFL Victoria Metropolitan Championships, has had all of the best EFL players in his corner for a change.
And it has been a delight.
“When you’ve got them all in the same group at once, it’s a great pleasure to be part of it,” he said at the EFL’s Season Launch.
“No one has missed a beat. Training has been great.
“Across the board, it’s a bloody good group and we’ll put a great side out there.”
Donati’s EFL squad oozes talent.
Rennie Gilchrist (Balwyn), Ryan Mullett (Vermont) and Luke Williams (Knox) are not only three of the best midfielders in the EFL, but also three of the best leaders. You can add South Croydon skipper Daniel King – the 2013 Chandler Medallist – to that group too.
Up forward, watch out for Balwyn pair Luke Barker and Jeff Gobbels, as well as Justin Van Unen (Vermont) and Brett Dore (Noble Park). They all eat goals for breakfast.
At the other end, Joel Perry (East Ringwood), Stuart Hill (Norwood), Dean Millhouse (Vermont) and Stewart Kemperman (Noble Park) are as reliable as a Corolla. They deny forwards from eating breakfast.
Then there is Vermont’s mobile ruckman Simon Taylor, who played 85 games for Hawthorn.
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Donati does not like individualising players, especially when dealing with such an outstanding squad. However he has been thrilled with the output of a few Division 2 and 3 players at training.
“Chris Annakis from Doncaster has been really impressive. Add Dean Grice (Boronia) and Matty Polkinghorne (Mooroolbark) to that as well,” Donati said.
“Over the past four weeks, I’ve seen these guys step up and improve as footballers, because they are with guys who train at a Division 1 intensity.”
Donati empathises that the EFL could potentially be disadvantaged because the VAFA participates in interleague matches on an annual basis.
Yet he believes the EFL’s decision to start training as early as possible has been crucial.
“It is a brand new group, so we decided to have up to six weeks of training before the game so we could get to know each other,” Donati said.
“The EFL don’t do something like this very often, so the team camaraderie has been really important for me and the boys to get to know each other.”
The EFL coach, however, knows the task will not be easy.
“They [the VAFA] are very good. They play a lot together and rate themselves very highly,” he said.
“But we’d like to think that we’re an excellent chance of getting up. Hopefully we’ve done everything right and we can get that No.1 ranking back.”
Personally, Donati cannot wait for the first bounce.
He has played in both leagues – Noble Park (EFL) and Old Xaverians (VAFA) – and represented both at interleague level.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be coaching the interleague side. I had no hesitation in putting my hand up for this,” Donati said.
“I loved playing as a player years ago, so I know it’s a great honour to play as well.
“Now to be able to coach the best players is great.”
You will be able to video stream the match live via the AFL Victoria website, as well as listen through Aussie Digtial and 98.1 Radio Eastern FM.
