By: Daniel Cencic
DONCASTER EAST has stormed into the EFL’s Premier Division, after claiming the Division 1 flag with a 36-point win over Croydon at Tormore Reserve on Saturday afternoon.
It is the Lions’ second flag in as many seasons after winning the 2018 second-tier cup, where they now earn promotion to the top division of the Eastern Football League for the first time in their history. It is also the first time in the club’s 45-year existence it has won back-to-back premierships.
.@DoncasterEastFC claims back-to-back premierships – and long-awaited promotion to #EFLPremier Division – with a 36-point win over Croydon in the #EFLDIV1 GF. Jake Summers claims the Gordon Parker Blue Ribbon Medal, kicking five goals! pic.twitter.com/2poqDuVvlb
— Dan (@DC_EFL) September 14, 2019
The Doncaster East charge was led by a five-goal best on ground performance from forward Jake Summers, who was awarded the Gordon Parker Blue Ribbon Medal.
But in a stunning inclusion into the side, defender Chris Phelan made a surprise return after suffering a seemingly season-ending broken jaw in Round 16, starring on the big stage with three goals including two in the opening term.
The Lions burst out of the blocks early through some exceptional work in the forward-half from Jack Sholakis, who kicked his side’s first two minutes in, before setting up Phelan who put the reigning premiers’ second goal on the board shortly after.
Despite conceding the early ascendancy, the Blues rallied and hit back when Jake Lynch launched a long ball deep into attack which found Riley Costantino at point-blank range mid-way through the term, before the sides traded goals through Locke and Ficorilli.
With the margin cut to just five points heading into time-on, the minor premier slammed on two quick majors in succession through Gordon and Phelan to take a 17-point lead into quarter-time.
The Blues however arrested the Lions’ momentum early in the second quarter, with a fast-start which saw three consecutive goals including a ripping long-range goal from Beau Christie which levelled the scores 12 minutes in. The sides traded goals to close out the half, as Doncaster East gained much-needed breathing space from a hard-running Croydon outfit to lead by 12 at the main break.
The stage was set for a mouth-watering third term, but goal-less first 17 minutes followed by a four-goal-to-none eight-minute burst by the Lions had the Blues on the ropes at the final change, as the flag looked headed for Zerbes Reserve for the second consecutive year with the margin blown out to 39 points at three-quarter time.
Ficorilli tried to spark a Croydon revival as he cut the margin to 31 points 11 minutes into the final term, but the Gordon Parker Blue Ribbon medallist in Jake Summers bagged two quick ones to put the end result beyond doubt, followed by Nicholas Fletcher rounding out an historic day for the Lions.
Doncaster East captain Nick Batsanis spoke to EFL Game-Day after the match.
“It’s a credit to the footy club and a credit to the boys,” Batsanis said.
“It’s been a long year – we’ve sort of been the hunted all year, so every team’s come for us, we’ve had to show up every week, we had to put our best out every week, sometimes it isn’t great, other times really good. It’s reward for effort.
“It’s very rare to go back-to-back, especially here because you always go up a division.
“I’m so proud of the boys and so proud of the footy club and everyone that’s involved.”
Despite an inaccurate second term with the Lions registering 2.8, Batsanis said two weeks off in four weeks during the finals aided his side’s third quarter charge.
“We came into half-time and still really positive about the game, we just knew we had to grind them away,” he said.
“They (Croydon) are a young side and I think they’ve played 14 games in a row since their last break, and we’ve had two breaks over the last four weeks and I think it showed in that last half.
“Our run and carry was there, last quarter we sort of died a bit, but we spent a bit of energy in that third quarter in that last 15 minutes, but I think the game was well and truly over 15 minutes into the last quarter.”
The dual Lions premiership skipper also paid tribute to senior coach Steve Buckle.
“He’s just such a good coach in terms of the relationships he builds with his players and the love and care he’s got – he brings that family culture,” Batsanis said.
“All the boys really want to play for him (and) they respect him so highly – he’s probably one of the best coaches I’ve ever had.”
The occasion was not lost on returning defender Chris Phelan, who joined the Lions this season after crossing from Subiaco in the WAFL where he featured in three premierships.
“It’s a huge day for the club and the first time the boys have been up to Premier Division, so it’s an absolute honour to help them get across the line,” Phelan told EFL Game-Day.
The dual Subiaco best and fairest winner said the call was made on Thursday night to return to action.
“My original surgeon said not to play, and then I thought I’d get a second opinion this Thursday just gone, and he said I’d be right,” Phelan said.
“Played a bit of funny buggers the boys by not naming me, but it was actually a last-minute call, so I just got across the line.”
Doncaster East 5.4 7.12 11.17 14.20 (104)
Croydon 2.5 6.6 6.8 9.14 (68)
Goals:
Doncaster East – Summers 5, Phelan 3, Sholakis 2, Fletcher, Gordon, Whitling, Locke
Croydon – Costantino, Ficorilli 2, B.Christie, Hotker, Doueal, Wilkins
Gordon Parker Blue Ribbon Medal (best on ground): Jake Summers (Doncaster East)
