By Ryan Long
Overview:
Doncaster East were finally exposed to some top flight football after winning back to back premierships in 2018 and 2019. Unfortunately, after a promising start, the Lions season began to fall apart as an ever growing injury list and an inability to win the close ones, saw them finish the season down the pointy end.
Early season losses to Blackburn and North Ringwood saw the Lions failing to make the most of their opportunities and instead of being 3-1, the club were 1-3 and already behind the eight ball. With key injuries to players such as the Appleby brothers and Tom Gordon, the side was never able to find any consistent form.
After blowing a big opportunity late in the season against Doncaster due to inaccuracy, the Lions were gallant in defeats to Vermont and Noble Park without finishing with the four points in the bank.
With the best percentage in the bottom five teams on the ladder, there’s still a lot of promise for the side going forward. There’s plenty of talent at both ends of the field. Captain Simon White was a shining light, generating plenty of the ball movement off half-back. He’s helped create a really tight-knit back six that only coughed up more than 100 points just once all year.
Best win: Round 2: Doncaster East 16.12 108 def. Doncaster 9.7 61 @Zerbes Reserve
It would have been hard to picture the Lions only winning one more game for the year after the way they put the Sharks to the sword in an early-round two Doncaster Derby.
A very important day for the club saw ex-Carlton man Sam Rowe steal the show with an 8-goal performance. After a first-quarter leg injury, Rowe was isolated up forward where the star dominated in one-on-one battles on just one leg, as a ten goal to five in the second half saw the Lions break their Premier Division duck.
Worst Loss: South Croydon 16.14 110 def. Doncaster East 6.8 44 @Cheong Park
Even in most of their losses this year, the Lions were quite competitive, rarely ever beaten by more than three or four goals. When they travelled out to Cheong Park to face the Dogs however, they were torn apart in the last three quarters on their way to a 66 point loss, a massive blow to their final percentage.
The score was tied at quarter-time at 4.3 27 apiece before the Dogs were able to prevent the Lions from easy forward 50 entries, keeping them to just two goals in the next three quarters. Despite a spirited performance from Tom Gordon, the Lions defence struggled to contain their opponents. South Croydon had a range of goal scorers with Sheridan, Wilson and Cooper all booting three majors.
With just four marks inside 50, the Lions weren’t able to get anything going, being kept closely in both the second and third terms.
Standout player: Simon White
Off the half-back line, Simon White impressed all year as one of the most consistent players of the season. Averaging 30 disposals along with nine marks per game, White played a major role in keeping the Lions in games where they were struggling to win the midfield battle. The ex-Carlton defender also averaged six intercept marks and nine rebound fifties each game.
The captain’s leadership down back has also been really important for some of his teammates in the backline who play next to him. Tom Gordon who has just re-signed for the 2022 season, averaged 16 disposals at 66% efficiency, also averaging five marks per game.
White’s impressive form was noticed by the umpires, finishing equal ninth with five votes in the league best and fairest. White’s year was also acknowledged by earning a spot on the half-back line in the EFNL Premier Division team of the year.
Off-season focus:
The Lions have done extremely well in their recruiting over the last few years with the side targeting multiple ex-AFL players. They’ve started early again, signing another former Carlton player, Josh Deluca. After spending the last two years at the Box Hill Hawks, Deluca has officially signed with the Lions with hopes to assist the club in finding more success on the field.
If there’s something they desperately need to compete with the top teams in the east, it’s another big forward target. Sam Rowe was the go-to man, kicking 22 goals, averaging three marks inside 50. However, the Lions didn’t have many other dominant forwards, only Sholakis and Summers had more than ten goals each. If the club could recruit or develop another key forward to ease the pressure on Rowe and make their forward 50 entries less predictable, they’ll be a harder side to match up against in 2022.
Overall, Doncaster East is in a great position to improve on their 2-7 season this year with many of their most important stars re-signing such as Rowe, Sholakis, Clarke, Gordan and Ceravolo, as well as new coach Ryan James.
Plenty to look forward to in season 2022 if you’re a Lions fan.