Surrey Park too strong for Heathmont in EFNL Division 2

Surrey Park will have a crack at a third straight Eastern league flag after locking in Division 2 finals with a commanding win over Heathmont.

Tadan Vitacca in action for Surrey Park. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Surrey Park’s incredible rise through the Eastern league continues, locking in Division 2 finals.

The Panthers cemented third place with a commanding 49-point win over top-five rival Heathmont at Parker Reserve on Saturday, moving four games clear of sixth with four games remaining.

It sets the club up for a crack at a third consecutive premiership after going back-to-back in Division 4 and 3 the past two years.

Star midfielder Tom Smith continued his outstanding season with a prolific performance and four goals, joining teammate Hayden Telford at the top of the league goalkicking charts with 34 majors.

Having secured finals, Surrey Park coach James Kenworthy said the whole club was chasing success.

Tom Smith in action for Surrey Park. Picture: George Sal

“It’s huge, coming into the year every club wants to make top-five and play finals,” Kenworthy said.

“We set ourselves up with our start to the year and looking ahead, being four games clear is really pleasing for us.

“Throughout the whole club, the under-19s and reserves have been playing finals and winning finals as well, as well as the women’s, we’re heading in the right direction as a club.

“Our 19s having won the last two flags and up there again and our women’s program is doing really well, they’ve got up another division, it’s a testament to everyone within Surrey Park and it’s the place to be.”

After a disappointing loss to Mulgrave last week, the Panthers produced the perfect start, booting five goals in the first quarter.

A 26-point quarter-time lead turned into a 29-point half-time advantage.

The visitors then broke the game open in the third term, kicking four goals to one, to make it a 51-point margin.

Heathmont won the last quarter by two points.

Kenworthy said a big week on the track had set the team up for a strong weekend.

“It was really pleasing, after a loss the week before you’re always looking to bounce back,” he said.

“We came with a plan to nullify Heathmont’s midfield and the start we got was really pleasing, we got on top and continued for the rest of the game.

“We spoke about it during the week, the way we hit the training track on Tuesday and Thursday, so coming into the game we were definitely ready.

“It started in the midfield, our tackling pressure around the ground, and we got on top early.”

Smith was a standout, while Sam Harte, Angelo Rambaldi, Kane Falahey, Tadan Vitacca and Lachlan Summers also impressed.

Kenworthy was particularly pleased with Falahey and Vitacca’s return.

“Kane has been in-and-out but we gave him a role on the weekend to nullify one of the Heathmont forwards and he did that to an absolute tee,” he said.

“It was his first game back in and he executed to perfection.

“And Taden got a thumb injury at work and he missed 12 weeks, so he’s had a couple of weeks back and is playing good footy.

“We’ve had a lot of outs during the year and now hopefully we will start seeing these guys back in the senior line-up.

“Then there’s guys like Lachie, he came across as a forward last year but we’ve played him back the last six or seven weeks and he’s been terrific, really looks comfortable down there.”

For Heathmont, Lachlan Sverns was best afield and Jordan Haynes, James Feltham and Jack Davidson stood tall.

Surrey Park’s premiership credentials will be tested this Saturday as they travel to ladder-leader Templestowe.

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The Dockers claimed a 19-point win at Surrey Park earlier this year and are coming off a stunning 130-point win over Croydon.

“You want to be playing the top sides and give it a real crack,” Kenworthy said.

“To see Templestowe put Croydon to the sword it will be a great challenge for us but we come in with plenty of confidence and hopefully we can take them out on their home ground.”

Elsewhere in Division 2, Mulgrave was too good for Waverley Blues in a 46-point win, Ringwood pipped East Burwood by 10 points and Wantirna South survived an almighty scare from Lilydale by the same margin.