EFNL 2023: Donvale wins Division 3 grand final

A bold declaration from the coach 12 months ago amid grand final agony rung true on Saturday as Donvale romped to the Eastern league Division 3 flag.

“They’ll get there at some stage,” Donvale senior coach Kevin Collins declared of his players 12 months ago in the wake of grand final heartbreak.

Twelve months on and Donvale has reigned supreme.

The ‘Vales erased the despair of 2022 after romping to the Eastern league Division 3 premiership with a 16.8 (104) to 6.8 (44) win over Ferntree Gully at Ringwood’s Jubilee Park on Saturday.

Atoning for a two-point loss in last year’s decider, the victory also marks the club’s second senior men’s flag in six years, having saluted in Division 4 in 2017.

Captain James Rausa claimed the Frank Bibby-Blue Ribbon Medal as best afield for his tireless work through the midfield, which included two majors.

Kevin Collins lifts his third senior cup as Donvale coach. Picture: Davis Harrigan

The ‘Vales took control in the opening term with a 16-point quarter-time lead following a dominant clearance display – and didn’t look back – turning the margin into 28 and 51 points at the main and final breaks.

Spearhead Nick Murphy finished with four goals alongside Matt Day and Harrison Giles with three each.

The 60-point masterclass caps off a season which the club finished on top of the ladder by 14 points, losing just one match.

Collins said while the disappointment of last year wasn’t mentioned in the build-up, it played a vital role in his side’s breakthrough.

The win marks Donvale’s second senior men’s flag in six years. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“It was euphoria at the end of the game,” Collins said.

“Last year was difficult, but it was a learning curve and it was part of the cycle we had to go through.

“We never made mention of last year – it never came up – but we just knew the job was there to be done … we had a really formidable opposition who had really tested us in all games.

“In the end it came down to a dogfight – it was just tough.”

Nick Murphy (left) finished with a game-high four goals. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Despite Ferntree Gully dominating the midfield battle midway through the third quarter, the Eagles registered just two behinds off the back of 12 inside-50s as Donvale’s defence stood firm.

“They got right on top in the midfield (in the third quarter) – they killed us at stoppages and clearances but our defence stood up – James Pell, Max Otten, Harry Ablett … and most of our inside-50s were from defensive forward thrusts which hadn’t happened in the first half,” Collins said.

“Ringwood’s a great ground to play some fast footy, and we were able to do that and get some score on the board.”

Collins paid tribute to Rausa, who also finished Donvale’s best in last year’s decider.

“He’s just the complete footballer,” Collins said.

“He turned it on and is a big performance person and takes a lot of pride in what he does in everything he does.”

James Rausa was best afield. Picture: Davis Harrigan

It’s a third senior crown for Collins as Donvale coach across two stints, after leading the club to the 1994 second-tier flag before toppling a juggernaut Vermont outfit in the 1996 top-flight decider.

While each one holds a special place for the triple-premiership mentor, Collins said the class of 2023 boasted a unique edge.

“To get there again now is unbelievable,” Collins said.

“’96 was fantastic but we had great players that I was lucky enough to inherit … whereas this one’s been developed through the juniors, so it’s completely different.

“This is really special, we’ve got a group of young boys who’ve been put on the stage and developed.

“It’s been a different type of journey.”

Max Otten returned to Donvale mid-season. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Meanwhile, Kaleb Djordevic, Harrison Giles, Tom Goldsmith, Jake McCormack and Max Otten all followed in the footsteps of their Donvale premiership-winning fathers in the seniors on Saturday.

The club’s reserves also saluted, edging Warrandyte 8.10 (58) to 8.8 (56).

“All up there were nine players who played in a winning grand final, whose dads also played in a winning grand final here,” Collins said.

“I don’t reckon that’s ever been done before.”

With no promotion to Division 2 offered by the league for the premier this season, Collins is confident his charges can remain a force in Division 3 next year.

His bold declaration of 12 months ago rung true.

“We spoke about this and said ‘If not us, then who? And if not now, then when?’ – and it (a premiership) was coming,” he said.

Donvale 3.5, 6.6, 11.7, 16.8 (104)

Ferntree Gully 1.1, 2.2, 3.4, 6.8 (44)

Donvale

Goals:

N. Murphy 4, H. Giles, M. Day 3, J. Rausa 2, E. Duncan 2, Z. Haig, J. Grocott

Best:

J. Rausa, M. Brouwer, K. Wignell, T. Goldsmith, N. Mill, N. Murphy

Ferntree Gully

Goals:

E. Kiker 2, B. Wright, L. McComb, J. Battaglini, J. Flannery

Best:

H. Lovat, A. Bull, J. Paterson, J. Battaglini, D. De Ieso, H. Harvey