Old Eltham Collegians closing in on a maiden Northern league finals finish
In just their second season, Old Eltham Collegians are within touching distance of a first Northern league finals series. Here’s what the Turtles need.
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Old Eltham Collegians are closing in on a maiden Northern Football League finals campaign.
It would be a remarkable achievement for the club after switching from the VAFA in 2019 to save itself from folding.
The Turtles have won three straight since returning from lockdown and are now a game clear in fourth on the NFL Division 3 ladder following an 81-point win over Lalor on Saturday.
Collegians finished their debut season with a 6-1-9 record but have already matched their 2019 win total in just 10 games this season.
First-year coach Matt Sleeman said fourth place was there’s to lose.
“We recruited well again, our list is pretty strong, at the start of the year I expected us to be mid table and hopefully playing finals and to be in that position right now is awesome,” he said.
“We’re sort of there, other people have to take our spot to knock us out, we’ve just got to keep winning.
“We’re obviously responsible for what we’ve done but the draw has helped a little bit.
“Each week since the lockdown we’ve been better and realistically the win against Mernda was the biggest hurdle … the last quarter could have gone either way.
“(Saturday’s) win was another step to playing against the good sides.”
The Turtles host second-placed Kilmore at Eltham College this week before a clash against Heidelberg West, which could decide both club’s finals fate.
“It’s up to us. We get to play Kilmore and Heidelberg West on our home deck and in two weeks time we’ll know whether we’re good enough and whether we’re playing finals,” Sleeman said.
“Especially we if win this week, the ball is in our court, if we beat Heidelberg West they probably can’t catch us.”
The Turtles face Kilmore (twice), Heidelberg West, Laurimar, South Morang and Reservoir in the run home, while Heidelberg West tackles Lalor (twice), Collegians, South Morang, Reservoir and Mernda.
Old Eltham Collegians’ percentage has jumped 33 points in the past fortnight with strong wins over Reservoir and Lalor.
The Turtles’ 16.12 (108) to 3.1 (19) saw 12 players get their name on the scoresheet, led by Tim Wood with three majors.
Tim Ellis was named best on ground for his dominant performance in defence.
The former Eltham player didn’t play in 2019 but has made an impressive return to the game with the Turtles.
“He’s come on in leaps and bounds. We knew what he was capable of, he played a little bit of senior footy at Eltham a couple of years ago,” Sleeman said.
“He reads the ball so well, he’s started playing on key players and dominating them, he knows when to peel off, he takes contested marks.
“It’s a credit to Tommy O’Neill as well, he’s the marshall of the backline, and our back seven at the minute – I know I’m biased but – I can’t see a better back seven in the comp right now.”
Meanwhile, Jack Fitzgerald continued his stunning season and hasn’t missed a game despite having teeth knocked out in the win over Mernda.
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“He’s been knocked around a bit, last time we played Lalor he got hit in the head and obviously the incident the other week against Mernda,” Sleeman said.
“He’s playing without his two front teeth at the minute, so he looks pretty ordinary, and he had to have a root canal on Tuesday and only missed one training session.
“He’s only 21 or 22, and the two untoward acts against him this year, you wouldn’t begrudge him for going into his shell but he’s gone in the opposite direction.”
Collegians will hope Lalor can do them a favour this week when the Bloods meet Heidelberg West.
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