The Zebras have plenty of room for improvement in 2023 after just missing out on qualifying for the Division Four finals series.
Forest Hill
Ladder Position: 5th (7-9, 96.63%)
Leading Goalkicker: Jake Rowe (37)
Summary:
In a year that many expected Forest Hill to finish inside the top four with a chance of going deep into finals, the Zebras were unable to reach their full potential, finishing the year fifth. The senior club had seven wins for the season, a crucial loss to Kilsyth late in the year meant the side would miss out on a finals position by just one game.
Despite finishing fifth, Forest Hill was the third-best attacking side of the division behind the two Grand Finalists. Their forward line strength was one of the club’s greatest strengths this year, Jake Rowe, Ben Rudd and Mitchell Hanegraaf were three of the side’s most dangerous in front of goal, combining for 98 goals. They scored at least 100 points five times across the season.
Key Players:
Jake Rowe had a very strong year, leading the Zebras goal-kicking with 37 majors. Rowe was one of two Zebras that were selected in the EFNL Division Four Team of the Year, listed on the Half Forward Flank. His teammate Daniel Evans joins him on the team, listed at Back Pocket. An important key to the club’s defence, Evans finished in the best five times from 13 games.
Some of their other most consistent performances across the year include Patrick Evans, Alexander Wheeler and youngster Ethan Prentice.
Best Win: Forest Hill 23.6 144 def. Chirnside Park 10.6 66 @Kimberley Reserve
An incredible display of accuracy from the Zebras in their best win of the season away from home. The 78-point-win was a dramatic turnaround from the last time the club played the Panthers in the season where they lost by 60 points.
Forest Hill couldn’t miss, kicking nine goals straight in the first quarter before going into the main break kicking 15.1. Ben Rudd and Jake Rowe combined for ten goals while the team had ten overall goal-kickers. A completely dominant affair with their forward line showing what they can do at their absolute best.
Off-Season Focus:
There will be a continued emphasis on youth and development going into their next pre-season. They’ve had some impressive young players debut such as Ethan Prentice and Luke Stelling who have already re-committed to the club for 2023. The club have also made two new signings with Sean Casey and Ned Bradley moving across from the Glen Waverley Hawks. Casey should bring some added depth to the midfield, also able to float forward while Bradley is a strong key position player who’s a great mark of the footy.
There’s still plenty of depth within the club through a mature reserves team that are coming off a Grand Final loss to Surrey Park. There’s a lot of room for improvement for the Zebras which is why they should be very excited for season 2023.
Forest Hill Juniors
Forest Hill had two junior sides on the field in 2022 with the Under 17.5B side progressing through to a Grand Final. The club also entered a side in the EFNL 7s series and is hoping that’ll form the basis of a Forest Hill Under 8 side in 2023.
Forest Hill Veterans
The club also fielded a Veterans team this year, becoming one of nine teams in the BJS Men’s Veterans. A one-point win over Chirnside Park saw the club finish eighth on the ladder with an end-of-season record of 1 and 8.
