EFNL 2023: Former WAFL, Surfers Paradise key back Nick Hay joins Doncaster East

A former state league tall and the brother of an ex-AFL defender has signed at the EFNL Premier club in what could be the Lions’ most important find yet ...

DONCASTER EAST has welcomed a string of handy names this off-season – but its latest addition is touted as perhaps its most important yet.

The Eastern league Premier Division club has secured QAFL back Nick Hay in a bid to shore up its defence following some key departures.

The 30-year-old makes the move from Surfers Paradise where he’s played the past two seasons, and is the brother of former Hawthorn and North Melbourne defender Jonathan, who played 157 AFL matches from 1997-2007.

Hay brings a wealth of experience from the Western Australian state league, featuring for Subiaco from 2010-16 before a stop at Perth in ‘18, later adding a premiership with Scarborough in the Perth league in 2020.

He links up with former Subi players Chris Phelan, Josh Deluca and Simon White at Zerbes Reserve.

Nick Hay (right) in action for Subi.

“He’s got a connection through our Subiaco boys – he’s good mates with Josh Deluca, ‘Phez’ (Chris Phelan) and ‘Whitey’ (Simon White),” Doncaster East coach Ryan James said.

“He’s moved down to Melbourne and he reached out to the Subi boys … it’s all happened pretty quickly.”

Key defender Tom Gordon was among the Lions’ retirements this off-season and James lauded Hay’s signing as the “last piece of the puzzle” in the club’s pursuit to improve on its semi-final berth.

Hay was unveiled by the Lions on Thursday night. Picture: Doncaster East FC

“It fulfils the need (and) we tried early on in the pre-season to get a key position back, but obviously they’re hard to get – we’re excited and he’s mates with the boys so it makes it easier again,” James said.

“The games that we lost last year, I don’t think it was any secret that the opposition key forward got hold of us a couple of times, so with what we’ve added, it’s probably the last piece of the puzzle that we needed.

“I know there were a fair few clubs after him, but obviously the relationships he’s got with a few people at our club (helped him across).

“The QAFL rated him as one of the best full-backs in it.”

Among the Lions’ haul of recruits this off-season is former Carlton and Brisbane midfielder Tom Bell, ex-Fremantle Docker Taylin Duman and Port Melbourne premiership pair Lachlan Waddell and Luke Tynan.

Meanwhile, the addition of former AFL Blue Cam Giles could help off-set the retirement of spearhead Sam Rowe, while Waddell is set to help fill the void left by the departure of ex-AFL ruckman Zac Clarke.

Doncaster East opens its season at home to Park Orchards on Saturday, April 15.