Heatherton says it jumped at the chance to return to Division 2 of the Southern league

Heatherton has received a surprise call-up to Division 2 of the Southern league and is determined to make the most of it.

WHEN Heatherton appointed Shayne Sheedy as coach 12 months ago, president John Bennett told him: “We want you to take us back to Second Division.’’

“I must be a good coach!’’ Sheedy can joke now.

The Tonners are back in Southern Division 2, but in circumstances they weren’t expecting.

Relegated at the end of 2017, they finished sixth of eight teams in Division 3 last year, their six wins outnumbered by 12 losses.

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But with Mt Waverley struggling off the field, the league has placed the Mountain Lions in Division 3 and promoted Heatherton to replace them.

Clubs that finished higher than the Tonners declined the invitation to go up, most notably SFNL newcomer Hampton Park.

“We’re very happy to have a crack at it,’’ Bennett said.

“We jumped at the chance to go up because, to be honest, we didn’t really enjoy Division 3. Our crowds were down and we struggled to make money. We couldn’t be happier about going back up.

“It won’t be easy but we’re out there trying to recruit our socks off at the moment. We’re having a crack at some good players and if we jag them it will snowball and we’ll make a good impression.’’

Former Frankston Bombers ruckman Ben Drake is a confirmed arrival to Ross St Reserve.

Sheedy — who in 2015 steered Oakleigh District to its first premiership in 57 years — joined Heatherton last year with a three-year plan: consolidation in 2018, finals in 2019 and a “red-hot crack’’ at a premiership in 2020.

Shayne Sheedy is sticking with his three-year plan to lift Heatherton.

He said the same formula would apply next year in Division 2.

“It will be extremely tough, especially with two sides (Clayton and Mt Waverley) going down,’’ Sheedy said.

“With sides that go up, you look to target the bottom three or four sides to consolidate yourself in the higher division. With two going down, that makes it a little harder.

“But it’s a great opportunity. We’re rapt. Second Division, bigger crowds, better grounds, a better standard of football.’’

Sheedy said Heatherton would look to boost its scoring power, noting the Tonners “didn’t have a forward line’’ last year.

“That killed us. Our backline was good, our midfield wasn’t as good as some but we won enough ball there, but we just couldn’t finish,’’ he said.

“Our inside 50 turnovers … opposition halfback lines were cutting us to ribbons. So we need a couple of clever small forwards and one tall forward.

“With our recruiting, we are looking at a couple of older heads because we are pretty young.

“We’d like to keep the players together for four or five years so they can grow together. We think quite a few of our boys have their best footy in front of them.

“I said to the group, ‘You need to improve as players and as a team, we need to improve as a coaching group and the club as a whole needs to improve right across the board’.’’

Sheedy said he expected he would have up to eight newcomers in the seniors for the first practice match.

Ironically, Heatherton and Springvale Districts were relegated from Division 2 in 2017. But, with Districts winning the premiership last year, they are both back up.

The clubs have a strong rivalry and draw good crowds.

The Tonners also count on healthy gates when they play Keysborough and Murrumbeena.

Training starts at Ross Reserve next Wednesday at 6pm.