Eastern league 2021: Doncaster East parts ways with triple premiership coach Steve Buckle

One of the Eastern league’s most decorated coaching stints has come to an end, with Doncaster East and Steve Buckle parting ways.

Steve Buckle (right) led Doncaster East to two flags and into the EFNL’s top division. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It’s the end of an era for one of the Eastern league’s most decorated coaches.

Premier Division club Doncaster East has confirmed it has parted ways with its dual premiership coach Steve Buckle after eight years in the role.

It brings a close to a tenure which took in five finals series from 2015-19, four grand finals (2015, 2017, ‘18, ‘19) and two flags across 2018 and 2019.

Buckle took over in 2014 and lifted the Lions to the league’s top division for the first time in their history following the ‘19 triumph, as the club also went back-to-back for the first time.

Buckle finishes at Zerbes Reserve with a win-loss record of 84-42 from 126 matches – a winning percentage of 66.6.

Buckle won 84 of his 126 matches at the Doncaster East helm. Picture: Davis Harrigan

He landed at Doncaster East after taking over a struggling Heathmont outfit in Division 3 from mid-2009, where he lifted the Jets to a premiership in Division 4 two years later in 2011, serving in the role until the end of 2013.

Doncaster East president Peter Sowersby said the board’s decision to part ways with the triple premiership coach centred on the club needing a change after eight years, adding it was a “tough” move to make.

The club was hit with a mammoth injury list this season featuring a host of key names. It registered just two wins from nine starts to conclude the home-and-away season, which finished prematurely due to the current lockdown.

“We think after eight years we need a new voice, and Bucks understood and took it really well,” Sowersby said.

“It’s been a really tough decision for me personally because Bucks is a really good mate of mine.

“We’ve really enjoyed the ride and he’s brought a lot of joy to us – the decision wasn’t taken lightly and obviously you’ve got to make big decisions sometimes, and this is one we thought was best for the club.”

Buckle lifts the 2018 Division 2 cup. Picture: AAP/James Ross

Sowersby also stressed the decision was “nothing to do with how we went this year”.

“He doesn’t get a send-off game which would’ve been the absolute perfect thing, but also out of respect to Bucks, we wanted to tell him now so that if there is another job he wants to go for, he can if that’s the path he wants to go down,” Sowersby said.

“Eight years is a long time as a senior coach, and he’s the longest serving in the EFL. He spoke last night to the players, and he doesn’t hold any grudges against anyone and wants all the players to stick around.

“He said if he doesn’t coach anywhere he’ll be standing on the hill having a beer supporting us.”

Doncaster East joins fellow Premier club Doncaster in the hunt for a new coach, alongside Division 1 outfit Montrose and the Glen Waverley Hawks in Division 3.

Sowersby said the club had not approached any potential coaches out of respect to Buckle, but would begin its search soon, confident the club could attract a strong field of candidates.

“We’re going to try and get the best coach on the market, that’s for sure,” he said.

“We think we’ll get good applicants with a good list … it looks like we’re not going to lose any players so far, so that always helps.”