43 DAYS TO GO | EFNL Media will be previewing each club ahead of the 2020 season with the #InFocus2020 series, all thanks to Yarra Valley Water & Choose Tap.
By: Daniel Cencic
DONCASTER coach Stewart Kemperman says his side is well-placed to bounce back in Premier Division this season after an injury-riddled 2019 campaign.
The Sharks slid to eighth on the ladder last season with four wins and 14 losses, following a semi final berth in 2018.
Embarking on his second year at the helm, Kemperman praised the Sharks’ “resilience” and “resolve” in his maiden season, where the club lost six matches by under three goals, including two at the hands of eventual grand finalist Blackburn by a goal or less.
Doncaster coach Stewart Kemperman. PHOTO: Field of View Photography.
“It was a tough year, it really was,” Kemperman said.
“It’s certainly taken a lot of resolve from the club and the personnel within the club to put the shoulder to the wall and start pushing back – that started in the season when the magnitude of some of the injuries started to come to light.
“It could’ve easily turned into a season where we might not be in this comp had we not had that resilience and resolve from the playing group.
“For a new coach coming in, it was challenging and certainly an eye-opener and one you learn a lot from and you learn a lot about yourself when things aren’t going well.”
The club has seen the addition of much-needed tall-timber and midfield depth, including ex-Mulgrave young gun Jaxon Gervasoni, fresh off winning the Paul Edie Medal in 2019 as the best and fairest player in Division 2.
Gervasoni on the go for Mulgrave last season. PHOTO: Field of View Photography.
2018 Surrey Park senior best and fairest winner Kane Henden also joins the fold, after the midfielder played 68 senior matches for the Panthers between 2015-2019.
“He (Gervasoni) will add great depth to the midfield,” Kemperman said.
“I’m really excited to see how he goes and he’s got that mindset that he wants to test himself at this level and we know he’s a quality player.
“It’s going to be a great challenge for him and we’re excited to support him and help him develop in that area.
“Kane (Henden) has a terrific appetite for training and he’s one that’s just all ears and just wants to soak up and learn as much as he can and improve himself as a player but hopefully cement himself as a senior player at this level.
“His training this pre-season has been really strong and the way he’s committed to it has been really impressive from my end.”
Boosting the Sharks’ tall stocks is Apsley (NEAFL) duo in former Melbourne ruckman Jake Spencer and key position player Doug Lawrence, while Lewis Franz arrives after the past four seasons with Watsonia and the previous six with Montmorency in the Northern FNL.
Spencer played 38 AFL games for Melbourne between 2008-2017, along with 71 senior appearances for the Demons’ VFL affiliates Casey and 10 matches for Sandringham in 2008.
Lawrence brings six years’ experience with the Western Magpies in the QAFL senior ranks, as well as 50 appearances for Apsley.
Meanwhile, Donvale products Billy McCormack and Mihaele Zalac have also landed at Schramms Reserve, after featuring for the Eastern Ranges in the past two seasons including the 2019 NAB League grand final.
The 198cm ruck/forward McCormack, son of local great Brendan ‘Billy’ McCormack, and 189cm midfielder/flanker Zalac, have also linked up with VFL club Box Hill this season.
“We had some areas with the list to address in regards to the list personnel and certainly some talls were part of that,” Kemperman said.
“It’s really strengthened us in that way and hopefully gives us a bit of depth in those positions where we lacked last year.”
Season 2020 will see the return of experienced names including Ewen McKenzie who missed the entirety of 2019, Todd Vander Haar who played just four matches along with Angelo Rambaldi and Jake Kalanj (five), and James Siakavelis who was restricted to 11 appearances in 2019.
“All of a sudden, if we can keep those guys healthy, we have a chance to bounce back through natural improvement or availability, but we also have the added addition of the guys from the recruiting and also the connection we’ve made with the VFL clubs this year which we didn’t have in the past,” Kemperman said.
“It’s hard to say how much we’ll improve – I think we’re going to have a stronger list with more depth – but a lot of that depends on how well we put it together on a Saturday and also how much everyone else has improved as well, because we’re coming from a long way back.”
Departing the club is Jessie Finnen who returns to the Goulburn Valley FL and Tyson Hartwig who returns to the Ovens & Murray FL after two seasons each at the Sharks, while Dion Kapnias has transferred to the VAFA after 34 senior matches across 2018-19.
Chris Annakis will again lead the club as captain, supported by Michael Fogarty and Angelo Rambaldi as vice captains, while the “evergreen” Matt Schimmelbusch has committed to another season.
“There’s a good mixture of up-and-coming, youthful leadership and an out-and-out star in Chris Annakis who’s led the club for the past five years, so I’m really excited about their plans and direction on the season ahead and also their energy and enthusiasm on improving to where they were in years gone by,” Kemperman said.
Doncaster begins its campaign on Saturday, April 4, taking on Norwood at Mullum Reserve.