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By: Daniel Cencic
A NEW era has begun at Doncaster, led by incoming coach Stewart Kemperman.
Succeeding the long-serving Andrew Tranquilli, Kemperman returns to the EFL where he made his name as a dual premiership player at Noble Park.
For the new coach, refreshing off the field has been as imperative as on the field.
“This off-season there’s been a really big turnover off the field, so I suppose for us to start with we set out to get a really strong coaching group to support the players,” Kemperman said.
“I’m very thankful to the guys running the club and the group of coaches I’ve got around me for making it a smooth transition.
“We’re well and truly into it now and starting to get some really good numbers to training and training to a high standard which is what we need to do.”
Kemperman will be aided by Jason Heatley in the senior assistant role this season.
Heatley returns to the EFL after a four-year senior coaching stint with Wantirna South from 2006-09, where he led the Devils to the 2008 Division 2 senior premiership.
He subsequently coached Northcote Park in the Northern league to the 2012 Division 1 flag, before serving as senior assistant coach in Heidelberg’s 2016 top-flight premiership.
Heatley also played 63 AFL games across West Coast and St.Kilda from 1995-2000.
“He’s been a terrific asset for us,” Kemperman said.
“He’s coached in his own right at senior level and coached senior premierships at different clubs.
“He’s played at a higher level and understands the competition really well.
“To have him as part of our coaching team is really exciting for me, I know I learn a lot from him, but also for our playing group to get some really high-quality tuition and mentoring from a well-respected figure.”
Darren Rogers also joins the Doncaster assistant coaching ranks from St. Pauls in the Southern league.
“He’s another very well-experienced coach in his own right and could quite easily be coaching his own team in his own right,” Kemperman said.
“We’re thrilled to get him on board to work with our backs.”
The Sharks’ boom-recruit this off-season however has been Nathan Batsanis, after last playing in the League with neighbouring club Doncaster East in 2017.
Batsanis featured in VFL club Port Melbourne’s 2011 premiership side, along with winning a flag at SANFL club Norwood in 2012.
The 30-year-old will also serve as the Sharks’ midfield coach.
Batsanis in action for Port Melbourne. PHOTO: Herald Sun/Leader Newspapers
“We’re thrilled with Nathan,” Kemperman said.
“He’s instantly added a level of training that a lot of the guys have fed off and being able to drive a really high standard.”
Also heading to Schramms Reserve is Chris Colombo, who joins the club from Heathmont.
Colombo makes his way back to top-tier footy after a stint at Balwyn across 2014-15, while also playing eight games for Sandringham in the now-defunct VFL development league in 2017.
“He’s an exciting forward type who’s looking for a challenge and has trained really well so far,” Kemperman said.
Other notable inclusions include Luke Stacker (Balwyn), Simon Harris (Templestowe), while Toby Ryan returns to the EFL after representing Flinders Park in the Adelaide Footy League, while having previously played across Balwyn, Doncaster and East Burwood from 2015-17.
Meanwhile, Sam Caruso has committed to playing with the Sharks this season, last donning the blue and white hoops in 2016.
Caruso finished equal-second in Essendon District premier division club Pascoe Vale’s best and fairest in 2018.
“Those guys will add different elements to our list and give us great depth in areas we need,” Kemperman said.
“We’re really excited with those guys coming on-board but more importantly, the standards they’re setting at training.”
Doncaster’s 2018 campaign saw it finish in third at the end of the home and away season, registering 14 wins, including toppling both Division 1 grand finalists – Vermont and South Croydon – on its way to a finals berth.
A straight-sets exit from the finals followed at the hands of South Croydon and Blackburn.
“We’ve had some really good seasons in recent years but the competition’s getting stronger and we need to continue to improve,” Kemperman said.
“We’re setting the bar high – it’s going to be such a strong competition and week to week there’s no easy games.
“When the opportunity (of finals) comes, you’ve just got to make sure you’re ready for it.
“Our job at this time of the year is to prepare ourselves as best we can to take the opportunity if it comes and give ourselves that opportunity if it comes.”
Dual Chandler medallist Chris Annakis (pictured below) is said to be tracking well, impressing the new coach this pre-season.
“He’s told me he hadn’t done as big a pre-season as he’s done this year,” Kemperman said.
“From that end we’ve got a large volume of work into him and hopefully that’ll hold him in good stead for the season coming up.
“He’s a leader as well so I think his leadership has really stood out for me in that there’s been a really big push in driving training standards and making the time we have together on training nights as productive and he’s really driven that as well.”
Meanwhile, former club co-captain Matt Schimmelbusch looks set for another big year in defence.
“He’s been great – another mature head and a luxury in terms of what he brings leadership-wise,” Kemperman said.
“He’s just a smart footballer and has really bought-in to the high standards we’re setting and demanding from the players at training.
“He looks like he’s tracking well and has done a large body of training this pre-season and we’re looking forward to getting him into the games.”
Doncaster opens its season when it heads to Pat Wright Senior Oval in Round 1 to take on Noble Park on Saturday, April 6.
