EFL 2019: Donvale premiership coach Matt Fife returns to Queensland
Donvale will be without captain-coach Matt Fife this season after the premiership mentor relocated back to Queensland.
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Donvale will be without captain-coach Matt Fife this season after the premiership mentor relocated back to Queensland.
Fife last week lodged a clearance to return to AFL Queensland after three years at the Magpies.
He had previously enjoyed stints at Broadbeach and Palm Beach-Currumbin.
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The strong-bodied midfielder guided Donvale to the 2017 Eastern Football League Division 4 flag, just three years after the club returned from a season in recess.
“That was always on the cards,” incoming coach Dennet Merton said of Fife’s move back to the Sunshine State.
“He sent me some really nice messages and wished me all the best and said if he had have stayed in Melbourne he would have stayed at the club.
“It was just for work and family more than anything but he’ll be sorely missed obviously.”
Merton earmarked 2017 premiership captain Karl Toce, who missed last year through injury, and recruit Conor Lucas as Fife’s replacements in the midfield.
“I’m looking to get the rotations up this year with a few other players,” he said.
“Josh Busch has always played back but has got a very good tank and he kicks the ball well so maybe running him through there.
“You’d hope to get 10 to 12 players through your rotations and at this stage it looks like we could do that with a few young kids coming up, like James Rausa, Kyle Wignell, Jake McCormack … if they’re up and about, they’ll be handy.”
Donvale has boosted its key-position stocks with the addition of tall Alistair Jenkin from North Gippsland club Gormandale and returning ruckman Zac Haig after a stint at Nunawading.
“We’ve really bolstered that area, which means we can probably release some of the players that were pinch-hitting in there last year,” Merton said.
“They can probably go back and play key-position roles or other roles as needed.”
Jack Purcell, who kicked 77 goals in Donvale’s premiership season, and Dave Withers will also be welcome returns from injury.
Harry Giles, Ethan Parkinson and Chris Rinkquest will also be among a host of under-19s players to be given senior opportunities in 2019.
The Magpies logged a 6-12 record last season and will be one of eight clubs to take part in the new eight-team Division 3 competition this season.
“I thought the side, looking at the ladder, was quite competitive last year,” Merton said.
“With those injuries coming back, we expect to be very competitive with everyone.”
Donvale opens its season against Waverley Blues on April 6.
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