EFNL 2023: Heathmont through to Division 2 grand final

Heathmont will shoot for its first flag since 2011 after edging Templestowe in a Division 2 nail-biter on Sunday. And the Jets are breathing a sigh of relief on one of their stars ...

HEATHMONT will shoot for its first flag in more than a decade after grinding its way to a preliminary final victory on Sunday.

The Jets sunk Templestowe in a 12.10 (82) to 10.9 (69) nail-biter at Mitcham’s Walker Park to book a grand final date with minor premier Boronia.

Trailing by 19 points at quarter-time, Heathmont surged 19 ahead at the main break before the Dockers cut the deficit to just six points at the final change.

Ryan Burleigh of Heathmont celebrates his goal. Picture: George Sal

Heathmont coach Scott Hamill credited his side’s resolve in absorbing the Dockers’ pressure.

“It wasn’t so much of a change (after quarter-time), it was just getting back to playing our way … we probably went away from our structure and style in that first quarter,” he said.

“In the second quarter we just got it back onto our terms and played our style of footy, which has held us in good stead for the last few weeks.

“We knew they’d come out hard early and it was just about us absorbing their pressure early and getting on top, which we did.”

Key big man Nathan Mullenger-McHugh took no further part in the match after suffering an ankle injury midway through the opening term.

But the Jets are breathing a sigh of relief, with Hamill declaring the former Western Bulldog a certainty to line up against Boronia on Sunday.

“He was right to go back on in the second quarter, but we probably didn’t know the extent of the injury and to put him back on would be a risk,” Hamill said.

“He’ll be fine – he’s pretty professional with the way he goes about things, it’s not a stressful issue this week at all, he’ll be more than fit and healthy to play.”

Ruckman Campbell Evans finished best afield while defender Harry Isaacs also fired.

Harry Isaacs (right) finished among the best. Picture: George Sal

Templestowe senior coach Nick Batsanis lamented a heavy injury toll in his side’s 13-point defeat, headlined by the early loss of ruckman Beau Mitchener.

“It’s disappointing … but we’re pretty proud of the group with what they were able to do – we had some pretty big injuries in the first quarter,” Batsanis said.

“Beau Mitchener went down with a fractured wrist, Toby Ryan (calf), Alex Brown (lower leg), and towards the back end of the day Jarrod Healy looked like he snapped his Achilles, (and) Matt McLellan did a hammy.”

Fin Brown (18) finished with four goals. Picture : George Sal

Meanwhile, former AFL big man Cameron Cloke made a surprise comeback, just months after an off-the-ball incident forced his retirement.

Hamill praised defender Reuben Brown for his job in keeping the 38-year-old goalless.

“We heard earlier in the week that Cloke was playing, so we had him in our plans,” Hamill said.

Sunday marks Heathmont’s first senior men’s decider since 2017, with an opportunity to win its first flag since 2011.

Despite finishing fourth behind a Hawks outfit which ended the home-and-away campaign on top with one loss, Hamill remains bullish his side can cause a boilover.

The pair last met in Round 11 with Boronia prevailing by 66 points.

“The health of our list is the best it’s been all year – we haven’t been in this position all year,” Hamill said.

“We’ve got probably 27 guys to select from for this Sunday.

“The pressure’s on them (Boronia), really … but in saying that, we’re confident, we’ve got the mindset that we know what we need to do to get the job done.”