EFL 2018: Forest Hill to enter Eastern Football League Division 4 finals series as underdogs

FOREST Hill is set to be at full strength for its semi-final against East Burwood, with seven key players set to come back into the side as the Zebras search for their first flag since 1984.

IT’S the question mark that will linger over Forest Hill’s bid to end a 34-year premiership wait.

The Zebras have qualified for a fifth consecutive Division 4 finals series, but can they challenge the pacesetters of the competition?

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Forest Hill has a 1-5 record against the other top-four sides — Glen Waverley Hawks, East Burwood and Whitehorse Pioneers — this year, with an average losing margin of 38 points against its finals rivals.

The Zebras have finished in the top two in the previous two years but will need to win three consecutive finals to clinch their first flag since 1984.

Ryan Fisher after last year’s grand final loss. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Forest Hill coach Martin Stillman, who will finish his tenure at season’s end, said continuity and consistency had hurt his side’s finals preparations, using 40 players across the season.

“Look at other clubs for example, some have played 33 players and predominantly they’ve had their best 22 week in, week out,” he said.

“That really does give you consistency and continuity in terms of team performance but we have had up to five, six, seven injuries or changes to our team week in, week out.

“It really just makes it difficult when you have a third of your team coming in one week and it’s a different six coming in the next week.”

Going to miss singing this song @foresthillfc #ZebsFooty 🦓 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/2GJAqh76eQ

— Martin Stillman (@Martin_Stillman) August 18, 2018

The Zebras finished three games adrift of East Burwood, whom they’ll meet in Sunday’s semi-final.

Ruck duo Nathan Palmer and Will Stoneham, captain Lucas Gibbon, veteran Nick Pincott, forward Michael Cardamone, swingman Elijah Dale and key defender Todd Burger will come back into the side this weekend.

Star forward Steven Pimm and midfield pair Aussie Deneys and Ryan Fisher returned in Saturday’s win over Kilsyth.

Austin Deneys pulls in a mark. Picture: Hamish Blair

Stillman said he was hopeful Forest Hill’s finals experience would come to the fore after a combined losing margin of 18 points in the past two grand finals.

The Zebras have led by more than a goal in each of the past two deciders only to come up short.

“I think our guys are very comfortable at Mitcham, it’s a ground we have played well at in recent years … we’re used to the white shorts and being the underdogs come September,” he said.

“The three teams above us are all exceptionally talented and well coached sides so we’ll have to bring our best to beat any of those sides and hopefully that’s what we can deliver come this finals series.”

Glen Waverley Hawks will meet Whitehorse Pioneers in the other semi-final.