First Division - Eastern Football League

THE EASTERN FOOTBALLER
5
THE BACK PAGE
FINALS CLOCK TICKING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
BY LUKE D’ANELLO
TWO opposed schools of thought can occupy the minds
of finals aspirants at this stage of the season –
excitement at the prospect of finals football, or the
application of a weekly evaluation.
But, surely Donvale coach Brendan McCormack can
now afford himself the luxury to think of September
after his top-four bound side comprehensively defeated
Croydon by 61 points on Saturday – 14.12 (96) to 4.11
(35). The victory was its fifth on end and lifts the Vales
to third position on the division one ladder.
In a competition that many may have viewed as a touch
monotonous over the past few seasons, as a result of the
dominance of the ‘big four’ – Noble Park, East
Burwood, Vermont, East Ringwood – the emergence of
Donvale has been welcomed.
“Naturally, we set out earlier in the year to play finals
footy. Each week is a step in the right direction,”
McCormack said after Saturday’s success at Croydon
Oval. “Our last five weeks have been fantastic. I think
we’ve still got areas we can improve in.”
“Everybody who has a chance to play finals wants to
play finals. We just have to keep working as hard as we
can and, hopefully, we’ll get there.
“I think that we’ve played good footy in stages. We
haven’t really put a four quarter game together. I think
that’s yet to come, and once that happens, who knows
what’s ahead of us?”
McCormack is optimistic his side’s transformation from
a mid-table team to a serious finals contender can
continue to gather momentum. The Vales have Croydon
(twice), Noble Park and East Ringwood on its list of
victims.
“After last season, we thought we were the best side
outside the final four. With the direction we’re heading,
with the recruiting, we wanted to play finals footy. I
don’t think we’ve exceeded our expectations, but the
job’s not finished yet,” McCormack said.
“I guess it’s a tough competition, so you got to be on
your game week in, week out. I’ve just got to keep the
players up and their confidence levels up. We’ve just got
to believe that what we are doing is setting us in the right
direction to play finals footy. We’ve just got to keep on
winning, and that’s the simple fact.”
Donvale recruited ready-made senior players from the
VFL this season. Chris Menzies from Springvale, though
currently out injured, and Chris Barry from Werribee,
add a pinch of class. The inclusions of Cameron Cramp
(Tocumwal) and Damien Mattson (Ringwood)
completed a bumper recruiting harvest.
McCormack believes his side is just beginning to reap
the rewards, pinpointing the additions as the main reason
why his side has blossomed. “I think it’s the players that
we recruited. We probably went out and recruited 10 or
12 players, who were not all necessarily guaranteed
senior players,” he said.
“But it probably gives everyone a buzz around the place.
It just takes a little while for everyone to gel, and that’s
what seems to have happened over the last few weeks.”
Consecutive victories over Noble Park, East Ringwood
and the Blues add credence to McCormack’s words. “I
think (those wins) gives the club a belief that they are
right up there and can match it with the best sides,”
McCormack said.
“I’m very confident in the playing group. I think they’re
a committed bunch. I think, on and off the field, they
seem to have gelled. I’m pretty confident with what we
can achieve.”
McCormack heaped plaudits on James O’Donnell,
Hayden Cotsford and Tyson Heinrich – back to the club
after a season off – for their performances this year.
Full-forward Bradley O’Connor, also a new recruit, has
sent through 51 goals this season to clearly lead the
league goalkicking, while man mountain Ryan Power
just continues to provide a nightmare for opposition
brainstrusts. Jacob Anstey, Jason Casey and Brad Flower
have all ran amok this season as well, while Cramp
bolstered the stability of the team.
But Donvale’s side can be further enhanced, with three
senior players currently out injured – Menzies, Warren
Williams, Warren Thomas. Some reserves players are
also waiting for their time in the sun, according to the
Vales’ boss.
“Those fringe players are putting pressure on everyone
now. We’ve got some good depth in the (reserves), so
there’s a lot of pressure on everyone to perform,”
McCormack said.
Currently equal on points with East Burwood and
Croydon, Donvale have critical appointments with
Blackburn, Mitcham, the Rams and Vermont in the next
month. The worst-case scenario may be two victories,
given the division’s evenness. Three wins in the next
month should suffice.
“I don’t think anyone will take us lightly. It’s basically
the theme we’re going along with, we won’t take anyone
lightly as well,” McCormack said. “We’ve got a list
that’s competitive with the best sides. But if we’re off
for five or 10 minutes, the lesser sides can take
advantage of that.”
“I don’t think you can go at the flag just yet. The
competition’s too hard and we just can’t afford one slip
up. I think we’ve just got to keep focus on every week.”