Eastland 2024 Season Review | Heathmont

It was differing fortunes for the Heathmont football sides whilst its netball program continued to grow

Senior Men’s

Ladder Position: 7th (7-11, 91.87%)

Leading Goalkicker: Liam Malone (27 goals in 16 matches)

Summary:

A tough year for the Jets senior men’s side, with injuries seeing them miss out on finals after making a Grand Final in 2023.

The majority of their injuries came in the opening half of the season, with the Jets only two wins in that period coming against The Basin in Round 1 and East Burwood in Round 8.

Things started to turn in the second half of the year for them, picking up wins against eventual finalists Templestowe, Mulgrave and Waverley Blues.

However their run was left too late, with a Round 17 loss to East Burwood seeing the Jets flickering flame to keep their season alive blown out.

Key Players:

Nathan Mullenger-McHugh was colossal once again in ruck. The Team of the Year member was listed in Heathmont’s best in 15 times in 18 games, averaging more than 26 disposals, 20 contested possessions, 10 clearances and 42 hitouts per game this year.

Captain Jordan Haynes had one of his best years to date, being named in the Jets best on 14 out of 17 games as well as averaging over 27 disposals per game.

Liam Malone showed plenty of promise up forward, finishing the season as Heathmont’s leading goalkicker. Harry Eckert, Lake Tink and Michael Pearson were also consistent performers in defence and through midfield

Best Win: Round 15 - Heathmont 9.10.64 defeated Mulgrave 5.15.45 @ Mulgrave Reserve

A win that not only kept the Jets finals hope alive, but also proved that their best team and brand of footy is one of the strongest in Division 2.

It was a 28 to nil first quarter that paved the way for Heathmont’s victory, keeping a usually free-flowing Mulgrave to just five goals en route to victory.

Bailey Stevens impressed up forward with three goals in what would be his final game of the year. Ryan Young also had one of his stronger games of the year in midfield alongside Mullenger-McHugh in ruck.

Off-Season Focus:

It’s been a very positive start to the offseason for the Jets, retaining a fair chunk of its list along with re-signing coach Scott Hamill for a third year at the helm.

They’ve also brought in some handy recruits, none more bigger than ex-Doncaster East skipper James Appleby who comes to H.E. Parker Reserve after another solid season in the top flight.

With some more depth added, the only thing standing in Heathmont’s route back to finals is keeping its list healthy throughout preseason.

Senior Women’s

Ladder Position: 4th (8-6, 112.96%)

Leading Goalkicker: Aimee Morrow and Bronte Arnott (10 goals each)

Summary:

Possibly the strongest year to date for the Jets women’s side, breaking through for a finals appearance in a new division.

Coming down following a tough few seasons in Division 2, Heathmont started the season winning five of their opening seven games, with their two losses coming to Eastern Devils Black and Mooroolbark.

Unavailability saw them pick up only three wins in the remaining seven home and away rounds. However they were able to hold on to fourth spot following the Devils loss to Mitcham in the final round.

They would then win a tight elimination final against South Croydon Red at Silvan before losing to Coldstream by the barrest of margins the following week to fall just short of a Grand Final appearance.

Key Players:

Bronte Arnott’s first season at H.E. Parker Reserve was superb. Named in the best in nine of her 12 games and leading the Jets goalkicking alongside Aimee Morrow, Arnott was at Rover in the Team of the Year.

Brooke Mullenger was also consistent yet again across half back, with her season seeing her put alongside Arnott in the Team of the Year.

Alannah Browne, Rachel McPherson and Millah Wright were also consistent performers while Miranda Marshall’s first season at Heathmont was also a strong one.

Best Win: Semi Final 1 - Heathmont 5.9.39 defeated South Croydon Red 4.9.33 @ Silvan Recreation Reserve

Hard to go past the Jets impressive finals win against an inform South Croydon outfit.

After a tight opening half which saw them trail by a point at half time, Heathmotn were able to hold a slender advantage at three quarter time before hanging on in the final quarter.

Browne, McPherson and Wright were once again superb in midfield and up forward, with McPherson one of five goalkickers for Heathmont.

Off-Season Focus:

Much like the men’s side, Heathmont’s women’s program has already hit the ground running with retaining, as well as adding, to the side.

Adam Sullivan has signed on for a second year as coach, whilst key players such as Wright, Mullenger, Charlotte Tolliday and Emily Eversteyn have re-signed for next year.

Lauren Demarte and Caitlin Sharp are also set to join, with Demarte coming off a second place finish in the Division 4 Best and Fairest award.

With some of their Under 18s, who played off in a preliminary final last year, set to come through next year the Jets are already well set up for another finals tilt next year.

Netball

Division One: Heathmont White (2nd, 12-2)

Division Three: Heathmont Jets (9th, 1-11-1)

Division Four: Heathmont Yellow (9th, 1-11-1)

Division Ten: Heathmont Blue (4th, 9-4)

Summer Netball Division 1: Heathmont Jets (5th, 3-7)

Heathmont had a total of four sides compete in the 2024 New Balance netball competition whilst one took to the park in the inaugural summer netball competition.

The Jets Division 1 side was by far their strongest. Losing just two games in the regular season, they would make the Grand Final but fall short of Boronia after defeating them in their Semi Final meeting two weeks prior.

Whilst its Division Three and Four sides didn’t have a whole lot of success, Heathmont’s Division 10 side had some.  After comfortably making finals they would go down to Montrose Devils in the opening weekend of finals. Bharathi Vidyarathna was stellar all season long, taking home the Division’s B&F award.

Heathmont’s summer netball side also competed in Division 1 this past year, finishing with three wins but ultimately falling two games short of playing finals

Juniors

The Jets junior program continued to grow this year, with a total of 13 sides taking to the park for Heathmont this past year.

Of those sides, five would make finals, including all three junior girls sides along with the Jets Under 13C and Under 17.5C side.

Heathmont’s Under 16 Girls side would be the only one to make the Grand Final in the Under 16B competition, falling just seven points short of premiers Mitcham on the day.