EFL 2018: Heathmont facing likely Division 3 elimination final against The Basin

HEATHMONT will again have to take the long road through finals if it is to replicate last year’s Division 3 grand final appearance a three-point defeat against Templestowe.

Heathmont forward Leigh Odermatt. Picture Davis Harrigan

HEATHMONT will again have to take the long road through finals if it is to replicate last year’s Division 3 grand final appearance after Saturday’s three-point defeat against Templestowe.

Heathmont suffered their third consecutive loss and fourth defeat by less than two goals this year after the Dockers scored a 11.7 (73) to 10.10 (70) win, ruling a line through the Jets’ top-three aspirations.

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The result leaves Heathmont three games outside the top three with three rounds remaining and facing a likely elimination final against The Basin on August 26.

The Jets won three cutthroat finals to advance to the 2017 decider and will need to replicate those efforts if they are to challenge for this year’s flag.

Ruckman Chris Nayna is set to return for Heathmont. Picture: Stuart Milligan

“Obviously we wanted to push for the second chance and all that sort of stuff but we’re realistic that has gone out the window the other week and we’re about getting our best team on the paddock come the first final,” stand-in captain Leigh Odermatt said.

“We’ve got three rounds to go so unless something catastrophic happens, we should be there in the first final most likely against The Basin.”

Frontline ruckman Chris Nayna has played the past two games in the reserves and looms as a pivotal late-season addition, while captain Dylan Sverns and Box Hill-listed Jordan Haynes could also return in the coming weeks.

The Jets’ only win against a top-five side this year has come against The Basin in Round 5 when it recorded a 20-point victory.

“I suppose the positive thing to look at is all the losses against the top three have been three goals or less and we’ve had our moments where we’ve had them on toast and should have won,” Odermatt said.

“It’s definitely not Mount Everest by any means and once we get our best team on the park, we’re very capable and we’ve shown we can go toe-to-toe with them but it’s going to have to be four good games in September to get the job done.”