SFNL: How Highett got season back on track with surprise win over Hampton Park

At 0-2 and with a pair of tough opponents on the horizon, memories of last year’s 0-7 start were creeping up on Highett. This is how a surprise win got the Bulldogs’ season back on track.

Highett coach Clint Einsiedel addressing players. Picture: Valeriu Campan

At 0-2, the demons of last season were creeping up on Highett.

The Bulldogs slumped to 0-7 in Division 2 of the Southern league in 2024, before finishing with a flurry to win seven of their final 11 matches.

Fortunately, a similar fate has been avoided in 2025 after Highett downed an in-form Hampton Park side by 17 points in round 3.

“When we got to 0-2 and you’ve got Hampton Park and East Malvern the next two weeks, I thought ‘Jesus’,” reflected Highett coach Clint Einsiedel.

“The guys have put in a lot of work over summer, it’s just been reminding them about that, and they were certainly a different team on Saturday than what they were the first couple of rounds.

“The form’s been a bit all over the shop, we had some good form in the practice games, not exactly sure what to put it down to in the first two rounds we were just a little bit off.”

The Bulldogs’ season had kicked off with a 24-point loss to the newly promoted Frankston Dolphins at home, before Mordialloc defeated them by 17 points in round 2.

“We were pretty frustrated to be honest, take nothing away from the Frankston Dolphins … our defensive efforts that day were horrendous,” Einsiedel said.

“I’m putting it down to a young group, I think there’s going to be a few ups and downs, on the weekend we had an up week, it was just important to get an early win.”

Albeit against a Hampton Park outfit missing key personnel, Einsiedel said his side’s work at the contest was crucial in their first win of the season.

Highett’s Samuel Stephens. Picture: Valeriu Campan.

“It’s an area we’ve tried to address this year and that was really good,” he said.

“A lot of our scoring was done from stoppage and we got to work and gave our forwards every opportunity to kick a winning score.”

The final 17-point margin could have been greater if Highett’s forwards had their kicking boots on, after a goalless final quarter – which included 10 behinds – left the final scoreline at 10.21 (81) to 9.10 (64).

“It was a team effort, the midfield were probably the standouts … our midfield was where it was won” Einsiedel said.

Luca Guida was one of the Bulldogs’ best, while ruckman Samuel Stephens enjoyed a great battle against Mason Hawkins and got the better of him in the first half.

Joshua O’Neill, Brent Dyall, Max Jackson, Bailey Searle and Tom Carroll were Highett’s other standout performers.

Next up, the Bulldogs will face last year’s grand finalists East Malvern, who are undefeated and appear to be one of the teams to beat in Division 2.

It’s an opponent Einsiedel knows all too well – particularly damaging key forward Isaac Morrisby – who booted 10 goals last time the sides met.

Einsiedel said that a team-oriented defensive approach and the midfield battle will be key as Highett fights for a second successive win.

“We’re hopeful this year after six rounds the objective is we’re somewhere mid-table,” Einsiedel added of his aim for the year ahead.

“If we can do that we can build a platform for later in the season.”