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By: Daniel Cencic
HUNGER and desire to repeat 2018’s heroics is the common attitude at Doncaster East heading into the new season.
Senior coach Steve Buckle says his side still has much to achieve off the back of last year’s drought-breaking Division 2 premiership.
The Lions defeated Lilydale by 60 points to claim their first senior flag since 2007 after finishing runners-up in 2015 and 2017.
Coach Steve Buckle and captain Nick Batsanis hold the 2018 cup aloft. PHOTO: Davis Harrigan Photography
With the EFL’s competition restructure coming into effect, Doncaster East will again compete in the League’s second tier this season.
“We understood the restructure and understood with our club as well that we might not have been ready to take the step (to Premier Division),” Buckle said.
“I would have liked us to have, to give reward for effort to the boys to go up after so many years of trying to get there and you finally get there and you don’t get that reward, but I think there’s a steely resolve about the boys now that they want to win it again so we do get the reward for all that effort.”
Landing at Zerbes Reserve next Monday is three-time Subiaco premiership midfielder Chris Phelan from the WAFL.
The 30-year-old dual best and fairest winner played 168 games at state level and was revealed as one of the Lions’ key signings two weeks ago.
Phelan averaged 20 possessions during his 11-year Subiaco career, gathering 34 possessions in his side’s premiership victory over West Perth last season.
He will meet his new teammates and coach Steve Buckle for the first time next week.
Former Carlton defender Sam Rowe has also signed on at the Lions joining ex-Blues teammates Simon White and Brock McLean.
Rowe played 99 games for Carlton between 2012 and 2018 after being selected with pick 44 in the 2011 national draft off the back of 86 games for SANFL club, Norwood.
The 31-year-old is expected to play up forward this season.
Sam Rowe in action for Carlton. PHOTO: Wayne Ludbey
“We’ve been training him with the forwards this year during the pre-season so with Simon White being down back we thought we might be a little bit too tall and top-heavy down there as we’ve still got to keep some run and drive,” Buckle said.
“Tom Gordon will probably move back, but it just allows us to swing them either way.”
Meanwhile, 26-year-old former Northern Knights and Greensborough-listed utility Alex Rintoul joins the fold, last playing in the Northern Football Netball League’s Division 1 competition in 2013.
“He’s a good friend of Jarryd Lowther so he’s come across and he used to come to a few of our functions, so he knew a few of the boys anyway,” Buckle said.
“He hasn’t played for the last couple of years, but he’s fitted in seamlessly.
“He’s come to all the training sessions and he’s working through some Achilles soreness at the moment but he’s there every single night regardless of whether or not he’s actually on the park or running or walking laps.”
Buckle is looking forward to blooding the youth of the club this season.
“We’ll probably get a lot more games out of our kids this year, so guys like Haresh (Sitharather), Mitch Stoneham, Kristian Trkulja, Tristan Santoro – they’re four kids who’ve been training the house down and looking for a lot more opportunity and senior games this year,” he said.
“Our numbers weren’t great in the 19s last year so it sort of forced them to stay back in the 19s.
“We’re really looking forward to blooding some younger kids and being able to surround them with guys like Whitey (Simon White), Sam Rowe, Chris Phelan, Jake Summers and Tom Gordon.”
Regrettably departing the club is Dillon Viojo-Rainbow, who has signed with VFL outfit, Footscray.
Viojo-Rainbow claimed the best on ground honours in the Lions’ premiership victory last year, winning the Gordon Parker Medal.
“That hurts but it was a travel thing really, so it was more that he moved out to Melton and it was just too far for him to travel so he really wanted to play with us and he was really apologetic that he couldn’t, but he didn’t want to be that guy that turns up, doesn’t train and still plays all the games,” Buckle said.
In addition, fellow premiership teammate Jack Martin has transferred to Premier Division club, Balwyn.
The defender played eight seasons at the Lions and was named in the back pocket of the 1116 SEN Division 2 Team of the Year last season.
“Jack was very open and honest with me right throughout the year, so it (his departure) didn’t come as a major shock,” Buckle said.
“He spoke to me and said that there’s a possibility that with the restructure that he’d like to go up and test himself at a higher level and wanted to do it in 2019 rather than possibly having to wait another year if we’re lucky enough to go back to back.
“He alerted me early and it’s a big loss but hopefully with moving Tom (Gordon) down back – who’s played a lot of VFL footy for Box Hill down back – that that’ll cover that.”
Daniel Gordon (Coldstream) and Conor Lucas (Donvale) have also left the club, while club-great Leigh Murphy has retired.
And while the aim at Zerbes Reserve for the upcoming season is clear, Buckle remains aware of the opportunity to create history as his side looks to become the first in the club’s existence to win back-to-back senior premierships.
“We always set the bar pretty high and I know a lot of people don’t like to talk about it, but we aim to achieve the ultimate and that’s to go back-to-back and win a grand final,” he said.
“We’ll be disappointed if we don’t get there and achieve that.”
Doncaster East will take on Lilydale at the Lilydale Sports Oval in Round 1 on Saturday, April 6.
