HEATHMONT FOOTBALL CLUB
Founded: 1956 Joined the EFL: 1962
Season 2015 – Division 3 Seniors: 7 wins, 11 losses (8th) Reserves: 4 wins, 14 losses (9th)
NEW LOOK JETS
New jumper, new Jets? That’s the way it seems for Heathmont in 2016.
The boys from HE Parker have unveiled their new strip and will christen their ‘back to the future’ jumper in Round 1 vs. South Belgrave
It’s not only the jumper that is new, the club welcomes new coach Joel Cordwell to the Hanger as well as a host of recruits set to take the club from mid-range battlers to finalists and build for sustained success.
Cordwell makes the move to the Jets after a successful stint with Norwood as Reserves/ Development Coach under Denis Knight.
The club is excited about the prospect of what the future holds as they bring in a wealth of experience including Division 1 Premiership player Brent English who signed as Assistant Coach and will be a valuable asset to what is a young Jets line-up.
Also back to the club, Robbie Savory who will fill the void the club has in the forward 50. In Savory’s absence last season 35-year-old Michael Aitken answered the call, the club champion who has previously booted 100+ (2007) goals kicked 28 goals in 12 games in his first season back since 2012.
Savory will become the avenue the Jets have been searching for, still with plenty of years of Senior football ahead, last season whilst playing in the YVMDFL with Monbulk he booted 55 goals in 19 games including a haul of 10 against Belgrave.
Becoming a jet once more Kieran O’Driscoll comes back from an extended overseas stay to the Hanger. O’Driscoll became an integral part of the Jets midfield over the time he spent with the club and was prolific with his outside speed.
Many have felt that the Jets have been off the pace in the last couple of seasons, such was their final finishing position on the ladder. Topping up with quality and a little x-factor may prove to be the difference.
From the outside it seems The Jets are focused on long term, sustained success and a finals appearance followed by a drop off in performance in 2017 won’t be good enough.
The club has a number of talented players coming through the junior ranks and will be hoping those players become long standing servants of the club for years to come. The Junior club is set to field potentially two sides across almost every age group – a sign of the changing demographics of the Mitcham and Heathmont areas.
Continuing the development of Junior players into Senior football will be the key to success for the Jets who will be looking to consolidate and hopefully knock on the door of finals not just this season but in the years to come.
As a side note – Whilst having their ground resurfaced the club will play some of its 2016 home games on the top oval at HE Parker Reserve, the first of which will come Round 3 vs. The Basin.