DONVALE FOOTBALL CLUB
Founded: 1971 Joined the EFL: 1992
Season 2015 Seniors: 1 win, 17 losses (10th) Reserves: 0 wins, 18 losses (10th)
FROM THE GROUND UP
12 months ago, those who bleed green at Donvale Reserve were feverishly working to get their club back on track – Donvale President John Giles stressed the hardest part was just making sure they were ready for Round 1
“We weren’t just recruiting 10-12 players, we had to focus our attention on recruiting 70 players”
“Just the sheer volume of work that needed to be done in the timeframe was the hardest part.” Following a year long hiatus in 2014 the determined committee and a committed group of players lifted the club back to its feet and fielded a Seniors and Reserves outfit to revive the Donvale Football Club once more.
For Giles, the club may have not experienced much success on the field in 2015 but the thriving clubrooms tell a much different story
“The key to last season was no matter what happened on-field last season that the club was improving how we operated”
“Regardless of the results, players were still enjoying themselves.”
The majority of the Donvale side will be made up of returning Senior players and players who formed part of the clubs Under 19 Premiership in 2013.
“We met with a number of former players who had left the club and were yet to return, talked about what needed to be done and I think we have delivered in all those areas.”
Season 2015 marked the first time the club had ever competed in Division 4 in their time in the Eastern Football League. Entering the competition in 1992 an undefeated season in Division 3 bought the club its first EFL premiership, backed up two years later with yet another undefeated season which saw the club claim the 1994 Division 2 Premiership.
A further two years later the club claimed its only Division 1 title with a 43-point win over Vermont at Jubilee Park, Ringwood. After suffering a 30-point loss in the Second Semi Final, Donvale bounced back in the Preliminary final to beat Clayton by 43 points then capped off the season with a big win to claim their third title in six years.
Fast forward two decades and whilst the playing list may look a bit different the current support around the club has failed to waiver with many getting their hands dirty to assist the club move forward.
“We have a long way to go, our short term goal is to once again become a club that is respected and can sustain itself, as well as be successful on the ground.”
Giles is buoyed by new Senior Coach Matt Fife who joins the club as a Playing Coach having played majority of his football in recent seasons with Broadbeach in Queensland.
“Matt is probably the most exciting this to happen to our club this off-season”
“The players wanted someone who they could connect with and he has earnt instant respect as a Playing Coach amongst the group.”
Donvale will begin their 2016 assault taking on new comers to the Division Whitehorse Pioneers at Springfield Park on April 9.