30 DAYS TO GO | EFL Media will be previewing each club ahead of the 2019 season with the #InFocus2019 series, all thanks to Yarra Valley Water & Choose Tap.
By: Joseph Arthur
DONVALE’s newly-appointed senior coach Dennet Merton believes that a healthy Magpies outfit and effective recruiting will be catalysts for a successful 2019.
The former assistant coach at Doncaster East from 2012-2017 hasn’t skipped a beat in taking the reigns as Donvale’s new mentor and is confident that his side is poised for a prosperous season in Division 3.
Merton believes that the club is well-prepared to improve upon its ninth-placed finish from last season, where the Magpies saw their first year back in Division 3 end with six wins and 12 losses, following their Division 4 premiership in 2017.
“Things are really looking up, the club obviously won a grand final a couple of years ago but they’re still a very young side,” Merton said.
“The majority of the senior squad would be early twenties and last year they were pretty competitive in the old third division, as they actually had a lot of injuries.
“The captain Karl Toce, full forward Jack Purcell and key-back Dave Withers all missed last year, so they are basically like new recruits.”
The return of forward Jack Purcell (pictured below) is a particularly big one, following a 77-goal year in 2017.
Purcell missed the entire 2018 campaign due to injury, and his return could spell trouble for the rest of the competition if he’s able to find that premiership-winning form.
The Magpies have brought in recruits Alistair Jenkin from Gormandale, Conor Lucas from Doncaster East and Zac Haig is back at the club after a year with Nunawading.
Merton spoke on the importance of bringing in big-bodied ruckmen like Haig and Jenkin, as it allows more freedom and depth with his rotations.
“It’s going to strengthen our ruck stocks, which allows players that were pinch-hitting in the ruck last year, who are more suited to playing key position to be back there,” Merton said.
“Then obviously we’ve got young blokes like Jake McCormack (pictured below) who are just getting that year older and will be able to spend more time in the midfield and will increase our rotations.”
The importance of nurturing the younger stocks as they come into senior footy is of parallel importance for the club.
“We’ve got younger guys coming up from under-19s, Harry Giles and Chris Rinkquest, who we’ve looked at and hopefully they will push for senior selection regularly,” Merton said.
“Other young guys training, well you want to push them along and guide them into playing senior football, but you don’t want them to feel like they’re under too much pressure.”
Meanwhile, 2017 premiership playing-coach Matt Fife has departed the club, lodging a clearance to AFL Queensland, while key position player Jackson Freeman has returned to Wantirna South.
The first-year coach is not intimidated by his new role and has high expectations for his first season at the helm.
“We’re hoping to be competitive every game and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be,” Merton said.
“Looking at the restructure of the competition, we’re probably up the top of the bracket that will now be our division.
“I understand that other sides have recruited well, but we feel like we’ve recruited in areas that we needed to recruit and we’re also getting back our key personnel that missed a lot of last year injured.
“I’d be very disappointed if we weren’t competitive against every side.”
Donvale’s senior women’s side will be looking for more of the same as the reigning Deakin University Eastern Region Women’s Division 2 premiers prepare for 2019.
In its first season putting up an open-age women’s side, Donvale was crowned Division 2 premiers after defeating Blackburn by four points in the grand final.
Coach Martin and captain Tina Liu lift the cup. PHOTO: Hamish Blair
In a season where it was only beaten once, senior women’s coach Clint Martin recognises that it will be hard to repeat that feat in 2019.
“We’re being a bit cautious at this point as we’ve only had the one year,” Martin said.
“It’s a bit of an unknown and everyone wants to knock off the premiers so it’s going to be a tough ask.”
2018 Team of the Year member and leading goal kicker Monica Latino is back again and has made a strong start to her pre-season.
“Monica is yet to miss a night which is really good and I’ve gotten most of the other girls back as well,” Martin said.
“I’ve been looking to the more experienced girls to provide some guidance, but I also like to see the younger girls showing some leadership too.
“At the end of the day, we are playing to enjoy each week and whatever comes is a bonus, but it would be great to win another premiership.”
Donvale opens its season against the Waverley Blues away on Saturday, April 6, while the senior women’s fixture is to be released at a later date.