By Ryan Long.
Doncaster East progressed through to a Preliminary Final in 2023, their best performance since entering Premier Division.
Senior Men’s
Ladder Position: 5th (10-8, 120.05%)
Best and Fairest: Simon White
Leading Goalkicker: Tom Bell (35 Goals)
Summary:
The Lions fell one game short of the 2023 Premier Division Grand Final.
Their off-season was again quite busy, despite a couple of key losses including last year’s best and fairest winner Zac Clarke, the Lions welcomed in some big names. Those names included Tom Bell, Taylin Duman, Lachlan Waddle and Upper Ferntree Gully playing coach Luke Tynan.
In a very even Premier Division competition, Doncaster East finished inside the top six, setting themselves up for a second consecutive elimination final appearance.
It was always going to be difficult to reach the Grand Final, coming from a third to sixth position on the ladder. Doncaster East came close, taking out East Ringwood in the Elimination Final at Jubilee Park. The game was controlled by the Lions all afternoon, winning every quarter to finish 49-point winners.
A week later, they held a strong Balwyn outfit to just four goals, a 25-point Semi-Final victory set up a Preliminary Final date with Vermont. In a reasonably tight contest, the Eagles managed to hold a comfortable enough lead at each change to keep the Lions at bay.
There’s a lot to be proud of from a Doncaster East perspective this year, their best result since joining the Premier Division in 2021.
Key Players:
Simon White celebrated yet another fantastic season in the league, winning the club’s best and fairest. The general in defence, White averaged 25 disposals, 9 marks and 7 rebound 50’s per game in 2023.
Arriving at Doncaster East for the first time this year, Tom Bell was a fantastic inclusion. The Ex-AFL man finished with 35 Goals and was a Team of the Year representative; Bell was one of the key reasons for the Lions success in 2023.
Christopher Phelan also made this year’s Team of the Year, averaging 25 disposals and 6 clearances per game. Phelan finished as runner-up in the best and fairest award, one spot ahead of Joshua Deluca who averaged 25 disposals and 7 clearances this season.
Best Win: Semi Final – Doncaster East 8.11 59 def. Balwyn 4.10 34 @Jubilee Park
After knocking off the Roos in the Elimination Final, the Lions were back at Jubilee Park the following week in a Semi-Final clash with Balwyn.
The last time the two sides met, the Tigers essentially had the game won by quarter-time, six goals in front. This time around, it was Doncaster East that came out firing, eight scoring shots to three, an extra ten Inside 50s than Balwyn.
Inaccuracy kept the score line reasonably tight but they managed to blow that open in the third with a four-goal to one third quarter. In an overall low-scoring game, Doncaster East celebrated a second consecutive finals victory, defeating Balwyn by 25 points.
The side managed to hold Tiger star midfielder Alex Urban to just nine disposals, his least total in a game all season.
Simon White was again the star of the show with 33 disposals and 16 marks, leading his team to a Preliminary Final.
Off-Season Focus:
Certainly one of the best lists in the competition and the Lions are only going to get stronger in 2024.
One of the big names entering the Lions Den this off-season is Ex-Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs star Tim O’Brien. 115 AFL games played, it’s yet another impressive pickup from the elite level to join the club.
After a fantastic 2023 season at Norwood, ruckman Michael Wenn has signed with Doncaster East for 2022. Winning a club best and fairest at Norwood is a fantastic pick-up for the club. Joining him from Norwood as well is Hugh Johnson, who also has plenty of VFL experience with Port Melbourne.
After a Preliminary Final appearance, the club is in the premiership window. Similar to the likes of a Balwyn, they’ll be desperate for a top-three finish next year to ensure they earn the double chance. Although their finals form was excellent this season, it’s just too much to ask for any Premier Division side to win four games straight to win a flag.
One of the must-watch sides next season.