Eastern league: Why Doncaster East can bounce back in 2022

New Doncaster East coach Ryan James isn’t putting a ceiling on what his group can achieve next season. Here’s why.

New Doncaster East coach Ryan James says his group can bounce back in 2022. Picture: Supplied

Incoming Doncaster East coach Ryan James isn’t putting a cap on what his group can achieve next season, but believes the mix is right to climb the ladder.

The new Lions mentor was instilled at Zerbes Reserve last month, succeeding outgoing premiership coach, Steve Buckle.

He returns to the Eastern league coaching ranks after leading Mulgrave for four seasons from 2012 to ’15, culminating in a preliminary final berth in 2014.

The Lions finished 11th in their maiden season in the top division this season with a 2-7 record, but James believes his new group can bounce back in 2022.

James during his coaching stint with Mulgrave. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Led by a handful of ex-AFL players in captain Simon White, ruckman Zac Clarke and forward Sam Rowe, the list has made an early impression.

“What I’ve been really impressed by is obviously they’ve had experience at a higher level, but their want to make the club a better place, help kids out and anything they can do, I’ve been really impressed,” James said.

“Donny East have had a lot of success over the last three or four years, and we’re looking for drive the standards up a bit in terms of training.

“They’re a really ambitious group that want to compete at the top end of the ladder.

“I’m not going to put a ceiling on what we can do, but I believe if we improve a few things and hopefully what I can bring, we can push up to be competing with the top teams in the Premier Division that’s for sure.”

James lands in the role after time with NAB League outfit Oakleigh Chargers and VFL power, Port Melbourne, after his time at Mulgrave finished.

He oversaw the forward line and ball movement at the Chargers and more recently served as senior assistant and defensive coach at the Borough.

James said he’s “a totally different coach now” to when he last coached in the Eastern league.

Especially after time under master coach Gary Ayres in the state league, noting he had “never met a more competitive person”.

“I loved my opportunity under ‘Ayresy’, he gave me a lot of responsibility and we had some success … I interviewed for a few roles higher up and tried to develop myself with Oakleigh,” James said.

“We’d spent every week trying dismantle opposition game-plans (at Port) and that was the advantage of being at stand-alone (club) – I had to learn instead of being told how we were playing – we had to develop our way.

“For me, the desire to go to a higher level isn’t there anymore … I feel like I’ve learnt a lot and now I’ve got a chance to run a club and a team how I think it should play and look like.”

The Lions’ junior program helped attract James to the gig, and it’s an area he’s keen to invest heavily in.

“Obviously you’ve got limitations with points and salary cap, and I feel like if you put your time into that, it’s going to hold you in stead for a long time … developing footballers is what excites me, to be honest,” he said.

“Without a good, strong junior club, you don’t have that influx of four to five players each year, and if you miss out on one of those, it probably costs you two or three in your development.”

It’s been a busy off-season for the Lions, headlined by the signing of former AFL Docker and Blue, Josh Deluca, and former Oakleigh Charger, Daniel Scala, from rival Premier club Balwyn.

Josh Deluca on the go for Carlton. Picture: AAP Image/Julian Smith.

Deluca, a four-time WAFL premiership midfielder, played 10 AFL matches from 2015 to 2019, before spending the past two years at Box Hill in the VFL while aligned to Doncaster East.

The 25-year-old will play with Subiaco premiership teammates Chris Phelan and Zac Clarke.

Scala, a small forward, spent 2016 to 2018 with the Chargers and the past three seasons at Balwyn under coach Rodney Eade.

The goal-sneak received an Eastern league young gun award nomination in 2018.

“Obviously his speed off the mark, ability at ground level and he knows where the goals are, which is a real good trait to have,” Eade said of Scala in 2018.

“There are not many around that can make goals out of nothing, he gets in the right spots, so obviously a reasonably high level footy IQ, which is a real bonus for him.”

More to come.