EFNL Premier Division 2024: Doncaster East hunting scalps in run home, coach says

Finals may be a bridge too far for Doncaster East – but after winning three of its past four matches, the coach says sights are firmly set on disrupting those vying for the top five.

EFNL 2024: Doncaster East is faced with five teams vying for finals in the run home as it looks to disrupt the race. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Finals may be a bridge too far – but Doncaster East is looking to throw a few spanners in the works in the run home.

The injury-riddled Lions look set to miss the top five after back-to-back finals appearances – including a prelim last season – having won just five matches from 13.

But they’ve saluted in three of their past four after slumping to 2-7 at the midway point of their campaign, defeating Berwick by 35 points on Saturday.

Five home-and-away games remain, with Vermont, Balwyn, Rowville, Blackburn and South Croydon – four of the current top five – to come.

“It looks unlikely that we’ll play finals, but on the way home, there’s a few clubs that don’t like us and we don’t like them … (hopefully) we can be disruptive and just set the foundation for next year,” Doncaster East coach Ryan James said, whose side sits seventh.

“I think the minimum we’ve had (each week) is eight or nine out of our best 22, and some weeks it’s been up to 14, 15, so it’s just been tough.

“We just want to keep winning and create good habits and standards.”

EFNL 2024: Doncaster East coach Ryan James. Picture: Davis Harrigan

James lamented the season hadn’t “gone to plan”, with young talents Darcy Jones-Hughes and Mitch Ryan rupturing ACLs, former Blue Simon White missing nine weeks with a knee complaint and ex-Hawk Tim O’Brien playing just nine games, among many marred by injury.

But the coach admitted a spate of injuries hadn’t been the only shortcoming in a campaign which had worn a 130-point drubbing at the hands of East Ringwood.

“We probably misjudged our pre-season a little bit – we probably trusted them to do the work a little bit and I don’t think we’ve nailed strength and conditioning as well as we have in the past,” James said.

“We’ve had a lot of repeat soft-tissue injuries.

“But we’ve had everything from broken teeth, to hammies, to ACLs, to torn pecs – everything you could imagine.

“I think we’re at player 48 or 49 this year – and we’ve blooded 11 or 12 under-19s now.”

But White, who has played just three games and tweaked a hamstring in his return against Norwood a fortnight ago, was set to feature in the club’s next outing – Vermont on July 27.

Meanwhile, O’Brien has played the past four – booting 16 of his 26 majors for the season – as former WAFL defender Nick Hay has relished a move forward, kicking seven goals across the last two weeks.

James said ex-AFL man Josh Deluca had enjoyed a “phenomenal” season, while emerging talent Mak Hoskin had continued to develop – finishing best-afield on Saturday.

“Mak is only a 20-year-old kid, (and) in my three years he’s played ruck, back-up ruck, centre half-forward, centre half-back,” James said.

“In the previous month, we’ve actually got him to tag a few of the better players in the comp, like (Jackson) Sketcher, (James) Belo and (Brayden) Kilpatrick just to educate him.

“Over the last couple of weeks we’ve let him go, just to see what he’s learned and he’s been really good.”

And while September may be a longshot, James refused to declare the season a write-off.

“We feel like we’re still getting something out of the year,” he said.

“Touch wood, after the bye (this week) we should start to get a few of our boys back that have missed the majority of the year.

“The last month’s been good to see a smile on the boys’ faces after games, and people around the club – that’s probably the biggest thing we take out of it.”