By Christopher Kourtis.
Doncaster will look to right previous wrongs in the 2024 season.
It was a tough year for Doncaster in 2023, only managing one win in a season that saw them relegated from the Premier Division.
Senior coach Chris Annakis is aware that the team underachieved last season, but is focused on the future.
“Last year was disappointing, but we were also a very young group,” said Annakis.
“It was a year that was, but we are looking forward to responding this year.”
Despite the poor results, the Sharks were able to retain the core of their playing group, whilst also addressing their weakness by recruiting new talent.
“We knew that the way to respond and improve was to stick together,”
“We had 45 senior players re-sign within a week of last season,”
“We were trying to get some experience around our younger blokes, which we’ve done… we’ve sort of picked up across all areas, which is what we needed to do.”
Annakis assumed a player-coach role last season but will now put all his energy into coaching as he hangs up his boots.
“I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t easier… I’ve really enjoyed what this first pre-season has been, being a pure coach.”
Doncaster open their 2024 Division One campaign by travelling to a Montrose side that finished second in the league last season.
Coach Annakis is positive his team can start off on the right foot.
“[The squad] are looking forward to playing together and we can see that they are really good mates off the field.
“We are going into any game confident, we feel like we are well poised and well prepared to have a crack at anyone.”
When asked what to expect from his side this season, Annakis was clear:
“A bunch of guys that are keen to make amends for what happened last year.”
