Finals Time

Saturday August 26th
Walker Park
Maroondah Highway
Mitcham

Under 19s  10:00am.  Surrey Park v DONVALE
Reserves: 12:05pm    Forest Hill v DONVALE
Seniors: 2:10pm.        DONVALE v Forest Hill

ADMISSION PRICE
Adults (17yo and over)  $13.
Pensioners $7. 
16yo and Under: Free

Car parking within the ground will likely be limited. Council officers will be enforcing parking rules outside the ground so please choose your car park carefully.

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Great wins by all three sides against Kilsyth last Saturday. The Under 19s used the last round to move into second position and gain a finals double chance . Under 17 Billy McCormack blazed a trail of brilliance across Pinks Reserve booting 8 goals, while Mihaele Zalac seemed to have brought his own footy in a dominant display.

Our Reserves had a tough hit out, earning a 20 point win. Josh Phillips, Jason Wade and Sean Donovan led the way with strong performances.

Despite Donvale already having top spot locked up and Kilsyth needing the win to play finals, Donvale still dominated the senior game; running out 76 point victors. Matt Sheen kicked 4 goals while Jeremy Grocott, Dave Withers and returning coach Matt Fife all shone brightly. None shone brighter than President's favourite James Rausa though; who put on one of the best displays seen in a Donvale guernsey in a long time. Over 35 possessions, 3 goals and bravely returning to the field after copping a brutal (albeit fair) hit; it was a terrific all round performance.

So this Saturday, all three sides play for a place in the Grand Final. Our Under 19s and Reserves are both chock full of talent, with players unfortunately missing out on selection for both teams due to sheer weight of numbers. Our Reserves in particular will benefit with the injection of quality players from the senior side, with selection pressure intense at that level. This may help the reserves cover the badly timed loss of gun forward Sean Maher, who will miss with an injured hand.

Four changes for our seniors, with Josh Busch, Hayden Cotsford, Zac Haig and Matt Leardi all returning from injury. Four players head to the reserves to make way, all desperately unlucky to be squeezed out, despite performing very well at senior level. Reserves coach Daniel Michelangeli will be very excited to have players of the calibre of Clay Crimmins, Alex Fiore, Andy O'Meara and Chris Sutherland at his disposal on Saturday.


Senior Changes: 
IN:    Busch, Cotsford, Haig, Leardi
OUT: Crimmins, Fiore, O'Meara, C Sutherland

See you all there!
#BleedGREEN  

Donvale supporters are among the best going around. We are very lucky in that regard.

That being said, it only takes one or two bad apples to spoil things for everyone. Recent media reports about poor spectator behavior at other local footy games (senior and junior) reflects badly on the game and the clubs concerned.

Our club is on show like almost never before this weekend. Let's ensure that the impression people get about Donvale is what we actually are; - a great bunch of people, who will cheer and support their players but who know where to draw the line and are well behaved and respectful. 

While it may sometimes feel like life and death; it's only a game and in the case of the Girls Grand Finals, it's junior sport.  

Enjoy.
Cheer.
#bleedGREEN!