EFNL 2021: Jets claim first win of season edging Ringwood

Heathmont’s Nick Rutley says lessons learned from the opening fortnight proved the catalyst in a thrilling breakthrough win for season 2021.

Heathmont notched its first win on Friday night. Picture: Field of View

Heathmont senior coach Nick Rutley says his side’s lessons learned from the opening fortnight proved the catalyst in its thrilling breakthrough win for season 2021.

The Jets edged arch-rival Ringwood by five points in a blockbuster Friday night clash to kick off Anzac Round at HE Parker Reserve, winning 10.8 (68) to 9.9 (63).

Heathmont jumped the Redbacks early to lead by 13 points at quarter time. But an inaccurate second term, kicking 2.6, kept the visitors within striking distance at the main break with the margin just 15 points.

Nick Rutley calling the shots in his Wandin days. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Ringwood swung the momentum in the third, piling on five goals to two to hold a six-point advantage at the final change.

A late rally producing two time-on goals followed by the first of the final term kept the Jets alive after the Redbacks threatened to kick away, according to Rutley.

“Credit to Ringwood, they kept cracking into us,” Rutley said.

“They even got as far as 18 points up just before the last quarter and had a set-shot that would’ve put them four goals in front, and it would’ve been pretty hard to peg back.”

But it was the lessons from two losses to open the season that came to the fore in the last term for the Jets.

The possibility of a 0-3 start demanded change after being overrun in the last by South Belgrave in Round 2 and The Basin the week prior.

Rutley lamented that in the previous week’s loss, he and the coaching group “didn’t make enough moves in the last” after the Saints overturned a 22-point three quarter-time deficit, but “were prepared to make some changes” with the game on the line on Friday night.

Headlined by assistant Andrew Smith’s call to swing Caleb Quirk forward after spending the previous three quarters in defence, Rutley said the number of positional moves freshened his side up for a final quarter burst.

And it was Quirk proving the hero, kicking the match-winner ticking into time-on.

“We definitely spoke about it (making changes) and identified it – we didn’t want to get in a situation where we were left disappointed like the week before when we had opportunities to win it,” Rutley said.

“We changed up a few rotations and I think it worked for us … with a young group it freshened them up too and they had more opportunities to impact the game.

“That was good learning from everyone from last week … when you take it in and you get a result, that’s pleasing, because the players believe in it and we believe in it.

“I was just super proud, we had a couple of opportunities where our guys got pushed to the limit and they responded, which was really pleasing.”

Rutley credited his side’s ground-ball work in the final quarter arm-wrestle, with Ryan Burleigh impressing through the midfield and up forward throughout the match, alongside ruck/forward Cam Evans as the pair shared the honours for best afield.

Rutley said Robbie Savory and Jake Sherriff “played out of their skins” in defence against a formidable Ringwood attack led by spearhead Trent Farmer and Steven Brown who finished with two goals each.

Ayhan Bajramov also shone through the Jets’ midfield and up forward alongside Fin Brown who finished with three majors for the winners.

Meanwhile, Ringwood’s Mitch Jackson provided his share of headaches through the middle according to Rutley, who the Jets “had to sit on” in the last, but “still got off the chain”.

The Jets retain the Parker family cup with Friday night’s win, with the pair playing off for the coveted trophy in each encounter.

But the first-year coach said it wasn’t just a win over an arch-rival for the coaches and the players – but for the Heathmont community.

“Our people, our volunteers, we talked all week about how we just need to reward them, because the hours being put into this football club is astounding,” Rutley said.

“Our volunteer work at Heathmont is second to none, and it’s blown me away to honest.”