Both the Senior Men and Women Magpie sides had fantastic years, both missing out on Premierships by the closest of margins.
By Ryan Long.
Donvale
Ladder Position: 3rd (10-6, 112.75%)
Best and Fairest: James Rausa
Leading Goalkicker: Nick Murphy (48)
Summary:
A massive year for the Magpies who were just two points away from the Division Three premiership. With the side coming off a great year in 2021, Donvale had expectations to finish inside the top four and have a chance at playing finals footy after the incomplete season last year.
Throughout the year, the Magpies’ best footy was good enough to contend in 2022, having beaten Ferntree Gully, Warrandyte and Coldstream all once throughout the season. However, they still appeared to be a fair way behind the Minor Premiers in the Waverley Blues who defeated the Magpies comfortably twice by 72 points and 60 points.
Coming into the finals series, Donvale would meet Coldstream in the first Semi-Final at Jubliee Park. The two clubs faced off a week earlier in the last round of the Home and Away season with the Magpies winning by just nine points. The following week at Half Time, it appeared as if the game may be just as tight with Coldstream possessing a three-point lead. However, the Magpies turned it on in the second half, kicking nine goals to one. Nick Murphy was sensational up forward with four majors while Zac Haig was best on ground with his dominance in the ruck and ability to hit the scoreboard when pushing forward. A week later, they took on Warrandyte for a spot in the Grand Final. The Magpies stunned the Bloods with a nine-goal to one first quarter. Despite a Warrandyte comeback, the Magpies held on to set a date with the Waverley Blues in the Grand Final.
The club came into the big dance as the overwhelming underdogs. However, the Waverley Blues couldn’t capitalise on their first-quarter dominance allowing the Magpies to stay in the game, a late second-quarter goal had them just nine points down at Half Time. Momentum began to swing in the third term with the Magpies kicking four goals to two to build a seven-point buffer at the final change. The two clubs traded goals in the final term, a late goal from Giles evened the scores before a couple of behinds from the Waverley Blues was enough to get them across the line in a two-point victory.
Despite finishing the year as the Runner Up’s, it’s been a fantastic season for the Magpies who will be hoping to go one better in 2023.
Key Players:
In his seventh season at senior level, James Rausa was phenomenal, winning the club’s best and fairest. His clearance work and work rate around the ground combined with his ability to hit the scoreboard earned him a starting position in the midfield of the 2022 Division Three Team of the Year. Rausa was the Magpies best performing player on Grand Final Day and almost willed his team home in the two-point loss.
Also making the Team of the Year were Ethan Duncan and Matthew Leardi in the backline while key forward Nick Murphy took the Full Forward position. Duncan can play either end of the ground, giving the Magpies options when the full squad isn’t available for selection, also finishing with 37 goals himself. Nick Murphy kicked 48 goals for the year despite missing multiple games. Zac Haig, Charlie Kent and Mihaele Zalac all had massive years at the club, featuring in the best regularly.
Best Win: Preliminary Final – Donvale 15.9 99 def. Warrandyte 13.11 89 @Jubilee Park
Coming off the back of a 50-point Semi Final win over Coldstream, Donvale met Warrandyte in the Preliminary Final. In an incredible opening term, Donvale kicked nine first-quarter goals to one. The lead eventually stretched out to points 53 points in the second quarter before Warrandyte worked themselves back into the game. There were a few nervous moments late in the game but Donvale were strong enough to hold on for a 10-point win.
Swingman Ethan Duncan did an incredible job up forward, kicking six goals while key forward, Nick Murphy kicked four for the second week in a row. Once again, Zac Haig was listed as Donvale’s best player on the ground.
The Magpies had earned themselves a Grand Final birth through a very gutsy Preliminary Final victory.
Off-Season Focus:
The Magpies will consider themselves a serious chance at winning the flag in Division Three next year after their run in the 2022 finals series. Other contenders around them such as Warrandyte and Ferntree Gully have added a bit of experience to their depth which is something Donvale may consider. They may want to look at recruiting another key position player to assist Nick Murphy and small forward, Harrison Giles. Ethan Duncan was key up forward when he played there this year but he’s also a fantastic defender so a bit of extra depth at either end of the ground would certainly ease the pressure off him next year.
Donvale Women’s
Ladder Position: 2nd (8-6, 113.44%)
Best and Fairest: Jess Crundall
Leading Goalkicker: Monica Latino (28)
Summary:
Like the Senior Men’s side, the Senior Women had a fantastic year which ended in another tight Grand Final loss.
Donvale had a very fast-attacking lineup that put up some of the biggest scores in the Premier B division this season. A perfect example of this was their 140-point win over Ferntree Gully where both Jasmine D’Amato and Monika Latino kicked five goals each. The Magpies were by far the number one attacking side in the division, averaging 46 points per game.
The club were locked in a battle for the top spot with Whitehorse, finishing one game behind the Pioneers at the end of the Home and Away season. However, the Magpies made it three out of four against the Minor Premiers after a 37-point win in the Semi Final.
Two weeks later, the two sides met in the Grand Final, the fifth time they had played each other in 2022. In a low-scoring physical game, Whitehorse made the most of their opportunities with a four-goal to one first half. The Magpies hit back in the third term, keeping their opponents goalless to tie the scores. In the final term, both sides had opportunities, but the Pioneers managed one extra point to win the Premier B premiership.
Overall, it’s been a fantastic season for the club which has a lot to look forward to in 2023.
Key Players:
The club had four players selected in the Women’s Premier A & B Team of the Year to show just how strong their top-end talent is. Jess Crundall on the half-back flank, Shannon Fraser on the wing, Jasmine D’Amato forward and Amelia Van Oosterwijck on the interchange were all selected.
Crundall played an important role off the half-back, driving play from the backline with her intercepts, also winning the club’s best and fairest. Finishing Runner Up in the best and fairest was Van Oosterwijck who created plenty of run through the middle of the ground all year.
Monica Latino also had a very strong year with 28 goals from 16 matches, a vital part of their dominant forward line.
Best Win: Semi Final – Donvale 8.8 56 def. Whitehorse 3.1 19 @Quambee Reserve
Although the club had much bigger wins during the season in terms of margin, their 37-point win over Whitehorse in the first week of the finals was their most impressive. The game was never in doubt with the Magpies having eight scoring shots to none in the first term. They began to convert more of their scoring opportunities in the second and third quarters to take a five-goal lead into the final break before adding the icing on the cake in the final term.
Taylah Di Staso and Monica Latino both continued their great years with two goals each while Fraser, Van Oosterwijck and Ciampa all finished with one. Di Staso was fantastic in the finals series, winning Donvale’s Best Finals player award.
Off-Season Focus:
The side had some of the best players in the Premier B division and they have a case to make that they were the best side this year despite their loss in the Grand Final which certainly could have gone either way. The club are in a good position going forward if they can maintain their current group and keep developing ahead of 2023.
Donvale Junior Club
The Donvale Junior Football club had three teams in season 2022. The two competitive sides that the club has, both had successful seasons with the Under 13s making the C grade Grand Final and the Under 15D side making a Preliminary Final. The club also started an Under 9 side in 2022 and will now look to add Under 8s in 2023.
