EFL 2019: Jack Purcell’s return gives Donvale’s forward line a boost
Donvale spearhead Jack Purcell has wasted little time re-establishing himself as one of the Eastern Football League’s dominant forwards after spending last year on the sidelines.
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Donvale spearhead Jack Purcell has wasted little time re-establishing himself as one of the Eastern Football League’s dominant forwards.
Purcell booted 77 goals in the Magpies’ premiership season of 2017 but missed last year after undergoing a knee reconstruction.
He kicked seven goals in the season-opener against Waverley Blues and followed that up with another four majors in Round 2 to be one of the leading goalkickers in Division 3 after the opening two rounds.
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Purcell formed a dangerous one-two combination two years ago with Nick Murphy when the pair combined for 166 goals, and his return from a long-term injury could again give rival defenders a few sleepless nights.
Donvale coach Dennet Merton said Purcell’s return was one of the reasons behind the Magpies’ 2-0 start.
“It takes a lot of pressure off Murphy and we’re also getting some young guys around them, who can hopefully work off them as small forwards and hit the scoreboard for us,” Merton said.
“It does help our scoring power when a bloke has kicked over 70 in a grand final year.”
Merton said Purcell had considered retirement before deciding to return to the club.
“He’s 29 now, he’s got a young family and second (child) on the way, runs his own business so he has got a pretty full plate,” he said.
“Having some conversations with him and saying where we hope to go and get done at the club for the future, he was happy to jump back on board.”
Donvale’s ruck pair of Al Jenkin and Zac Haig has also proven to be valuable acquisitions early in the season.
Jenkin arrived at the club over the summer from North Gippsland club Gormandale, while Haig played in the 2017 premiership when he was named in the Division 4 Team of the Year before spending last season at Nunawading.
He’s been named among the Magpies’ best players in the opening two weeks.
“They both weren’t at Donvale last year and Conor Lucas from Doncaster East was good last weekend,” Merton said.
“Those two (Purcell and Murphy) working together is good but we’ve also brought in other players that we think are helping us and we’ve still got some more to return.”
There remains plenty of upside for Donvale with several key players yet to feature in 2019.
Vice-captains Matthew Leardi and James Rausa, premiership skipper Karl Toce, last year’s best and fairest winner Ben Lyall and key defender David Withers will return in the coming weeks.
Donvale travels to Kimberley Reserve on Saturday to meet Chirnside Park.
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