EFL: Doncaster signs Aspley trio for 2020 Premier Division season
Doncaster has continued its recruiting spree, adding three players from the NEAFL as it looks to climb the EFL Premier Division ladder.
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Doncaster’s bid to climb the EFL Premier Division ranks in 2020 could be boosted by a package of NEAFL players.
Queenslanders Doug Lawrence and brothers Connor and Cody Stackelberg have all signed at Schramms Reserve from Aspley.
The trio have also signed VFL deals and their availability at Doncaster will be a weekly discussion point during the season.
Key defender Lawrence has joined Port Melbourne and the Stackelberg siblings have put pen to paper at Collingwood.
Doncaster coach Stewart Kemperman said Lawrence was an “intercept, lockdown player” and could replace star defender Tyson Hartwig, who has returned to Wangaratta in the Ovens and Murray league.
The Stacklebergs were both members of Brisbane’s academy.
Doncaster only had four wins this year but the availability of the three players could help the Sharks close the gap on the top five.
Connor kicked 37 goals for Aspley this year, including four majors in the preliminary defeat against Southport, and inside midfielder Cody captained the academy side in 2017 and 2018.
The duo have joined Doncaster through a connection with former Melbourne ruckman Jake Spencer, who signed with the Sharks last month after two years at Aspley.
Kemperman said it was hoped the Stacklebergs would “get a good look” at VFL opportunities.
“If we see them more often than not then it just adds to that depth of players we didn’t have this year at that top level and probably adds a bit of class in and around the footy,” he said.
“It will add enormously to our group if we have the full complement together but it’s crystal ball stuff whether we will or we won’t.”
Goalkicking midfielder Riley Verbi has also signed at Doncaster from Beaconsfield, where he kicked 23 goals this year.
Verbi will complete a VFL pre-season at North Melbourne, where he played two games late in the season.
“He has a bit of speed, good skills on either side of his body but gets in and out of trouble really well,” Kemperman said of Verbi.
Doncaster had already announced Division 2 best and fairest winner Jaxon Gervasoni and Surrey Park young gun Kane Henden had joined the club.
Talented juniors Peter Stathopoulos, Mason Giles and Sam Cooper are also among of group of emerging young players that have returned to the Sharks.
Stathopoulos and Giles had NAB League experience with Oakleigh Chargers.
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“There’s a whole stack of them that are coming back and getting around the club,” Kemperman said.
“They’re good players that are going to add some really good depth to us and hopefully push up for senior selection throughout the season … and I think they’re more than capable of doing that.
“I really see them being part of our next successful era the way they’re developing and the type of players they are.”
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