EFL 2019: Jaxon Gervasoni joins Doncaster
Star young Mulgrave midfielder Jaxon Gervasoni is set to test himself in Premier Division in 2020 after claiming the EFL Division 2 best and fairest last month.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Doncaster has secured two of the Eastern Football League’s brightest young talents.
Midfield pair Jaxon Gervasoni (Mulgrave) and Kane Henden (Surrey Park) have both signed at the Sharks for 2020 to test themselves in Premier Division.
Gervasoni won the Paul Edie Medal this year as the Division 2 best and fairest and was a Team of the Year member as a 19-year-old.
“The opportunity we have provided him with is one that is real and an area in our team that we want to add to in terms of our midfield,” Doncaster coach Stewart Kemperman said.
“He’ll certainly be an asset in that area.”
Kemperman said Doncaster had identified Gervasoni as a player of interest mid-season.
He made his senior debut last year and received 14 mentions in the best players from his 18 games in 2019.
“Our list management and recruiting committee got together in June and he was one of the first names we had on our list back then … along with Kane Henden,” he said.
“They were two guys we had identified quite early and made contact with.
MORE EASTERN FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEWS
EAST BURWOOD PROMOTED TO DIVISION 3
NOBLE PARK APPOINTS ITS NEW COACH
100-GAME AFL DEFENDER JOINS DONCASTER EAST
NEW COACH TO REJUVENATE FERNTREE GULLY LIST
“It’s a hard game recruiting. Already I reckon I’ve met 30 or 40 different players and in conversations with close to 100. It’s just ridiculous how hard you work … we’ve signed two already and there’s a lot still in play.
“We’re rapt to get Jaxon and Kane as well and we’re still continuing to work through a number of others.”
Henden, 22, claimed the under-19 Division 4 league medal in 2015 and has received Team of the Year honours the previous two seasons.
“Kane is a very enthusiastic young player — again, one that wants to test himself at a better level,” Kemperman said.
“That enthusiasm … and his ability to bring an energy to our team is really exciting for us.”
Kemperman said Doncaster had identified young players as part of its recruiting strategy.
“We’ve got a good group of guys around that 19 to 25 range and we certainly see them being the next wave that we want to bring through and develop as Doncaster players and ultimately … win and be successful in the Premier competition,” he said.
“We know that doesn’t happen overnight and with the points and salary cap, that’s the way you’ve got to go that’s sustainable.”
WHAT A LEADER LOCAL FOOTY SUBSCRIPTION GIVES YOU ACCESS TO
— Match reports, features, player and coach movements and analysis of all the leagues across Melbourne.
— Unprecedented AFL coverage.
— All the latest football news from across the country including Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph and Courier-Mail.
— Latest news and videos from the world’s leading leagues.
— Exclusive digital stories and videos before they go to print.