11 DAYS TO GO | EFL Media will be previewing each club ahead of the 2018 season with the #InFocus2018 series, all thanks to Yarra Valley Water & Choose Tap.
By: Steve White
Twitter: @StephenWhite83
The 2017 EFL season was a heartbreaker for the men from Heathmont.
After defeating South Belgrave in the final round of the season and also getting help from a Templestowe win over Boronia to scrape into the finals, the Jets went on a tear in the post-season.
Heathmont defeated Scoresby, Templestowe and Ringwood before eventually falling to Park Orchards in a thrilling Division 3 grand final by 15 points, despite mounting a come from behind rally similar to its preliminary final bout against Ringwood.
“At that stage of the game I thought we were going to do it as we had done it the week before against Ringwood,” senior coach Joel Cordwell said.
The Jets have put the past behind them and after an intense off-season training regime, have their eyes firmly set on the 2018 flag and promotion in time for the new 2019 EFL format.
“Our pre-season has been really solid. We’ve had about 10-12 guys come up from the colts which has been great and it’s a big step up for them,” Cordwell said.
“We started pre-season camp with about 40 guys training hard and it’s been really focused and intense.”
Aside from winning the flag, the Jets have set plenty of other goals for themselves in 2018.
“We need to be a more consistent side,” Cordwell said.
“Last year we finished a 12-6 side and had a period of about eight weeks where we were just flat.
“We also want to develop our young players that have come up – we’ve had a lot of guys come up from the under-19s and they realise they have to earn games but their development is one of our major objectives for this year.”
Heathmont also fielded its first-ever women’s team in the Deakin Uni Eastern Region Women’s Competition last season.
The club finished 2017 with a 3-11 record in its first season and coach Joel Saunders was impressed with his side’s performance despite the lack of playing experience.
“Our entire team had never played a game of footy before so for them to come away with three wins last year despite the lack of experience was great,” Saunders said.
“This year we are obviously looking for the girls to improve, hone their skills and win more games, particularly against strong teams like Mt Evelyn.
“The girls have been working hard in the pre-season especially players like Rachael Sweatman and Lauren Strachan who have been stand-outs.”
Heathmont has managed to maintain most of its 2017 list.
Kevin Clark, Heathmont’s leading goal kicker with 61 goals in 2017, returns along with the likes of Dylan Sverns, Tommy Rourke, Jarrod Spurrell and Ben Abruzzese.
Also joining them is Vermont under-19s Blue Ribbon Medal winner Bailey Stevens in among a core of young talent at the Jets.
Heathmont’s biggest recruiting coup of the off-season was former Jet Leigh Odermatt returning to the club after six seasons away.
Odermatt is a premiership player in 2008 and 2011 with the Jets and spent last season with Coldstream after five seasons at South Belgrave, where he won the flag in 2013.
Odermatt’s veteran presence is something Cordwell relishes.
“It’s a huge get for us. He’s been training hard since November and he doesn’t miss a session, even though he’s also playing cricket,” Cordwell said.
Also joining the club for 2018 is Gary Conyers. Conyers spent the last three seasons in Division 1 with Montrose and is another valuable veteran addition for the Jets.
“He’s a great addition to the club. He’s a bit of a bull in midfield and a hard worker. He’s also been great as part of the leadership group particularly in the huddles and the coach’s address adding his little bit,” Cordwell said.
“It’s huge for the development of the guys who have come up from the 19’s to have both of these two guys as mentors at the club.”
Heathmont begins its 2018 campaign against Ringwood at H.E. Parker Reserve on April 7.
