EFL 2022: Doncaster East knocks Rowville off top spot following six-point win

Doncaster East has reaffirmed its status as one of the EFL Premier Division’s contenders as it knocked over ladder-leader Rowville in a thriller on Saturday.

Doncaster East has knocked Rowville off the top of the Eastern Premier Division table following a thrilling statement win on Saturday.

The Lions edged the Hawks 10.13 (73) to 10.7 (67) to mark Rowville’s second loss this season, sliding to second on the ladder with Noble Park jumping to first following a 38-point victory over Norwood.

Doncaster East’s Sam Rowe has 31 goals to his name this season. Picture: Hamish Blair

The visitors raced to a 29-point quarter-time lead before Hawks cut the margin to just nine at the main break with the “three or four goal” breeze proving a strong advantage, as the Lions kicked 24 clear at the final change.

Doncaster East was dealt a heavy blow early, losing key defender Simon White to a hamstring concern in the opening five minutes, making the win all the more meritorious according to senior coach Ryan James.

The Lions have now beaten every side in the top-six bar Balwyn.

“We feel like we’ve been tracking really well for the majority of the year,” James said.

“Realistically the only game we haven’t been competitive in is Park Orchards and there were a few circumstances around that.

“They’re all big scalps in the top six, and I don’t think any is bigger than any other, but we got the job done which we had every belief and intent on doing.

“Barring the scoreboard (to three-quarter time), the stats would’ve been looking really good our way, we felt we were on top in general play but we knew Rowville were going to come home strong.”

Forwards Sam Rowe and Jack Sholakis fired off three majors each, with former AFL-Blue and Saint Rowe taking his season total to 31 goals from 13 matches.

Former Oakleigh Charger Mitch Ryan stood up in White’s absence, with the young gun earning an eighth mention in the best this season.

“He was unbelievable,” James said.

“He’s played a lot of good games for us this year and on the weekend, that was his best game – he had to step up and play centre half-back without ‘Whitey’.

“For a 19-year-old kid with a lot of external pressure on him now, he controlled the game, he would’ve been double-digits for marks and close to double-digits for intercept marks.

“I can’t speak highly enough, I’ve been lucky enough to coach some players that have gone on to AFL, and Mitch Ryan’s got every attribute.”

James also highlighted emerging talents Darcy Jones-Hughes and Mak Hoskin as “really influential” in the result.

Doncaster East coach Ryan James. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Rowville’s Matt Davey led his side’s revival with three goals, while Kane Young, Anthony Brolic and Kyle Stainthorpe figured among the best.

The win lifts the Lions to a 9-4 record – some three per cent clear in third spot – with Balwyn, South Croydon (8-5) and Blackburn (7-5-1) rounding out the top six.

Noble Park and Rowville sit first and second respectively with 11-2 returns, with the Bulls almost 23 per cent ahead.

Doncaster East hosts Doncaster at Zerbes Reserve next weekend, but the coach expects Simon White to miss the clash.

Rowville is away to Park Orchards in Round 14.