JETS WIN ... JUST
Heathmont hung on in a nail biting finish to the division four senior grand final last weekend to defeat Chirnside Park by just three points. In an eerily similar game to the second semi final, Heathmont jumped out to a 35 point lead 17 minutes into the third quarter after they opened the term with the first four goals. But once again Chirnside Park staged a courageous fight back, kicking the final three goals of the third quarter - and seven of the last nine goals of the game – to ensure the result was going right down to the wire.
Heathmont dominated the first quarter, kicking the first four majors of the game. Levi Horton opened the Jets account two minutes in with a goal on the run, and David Sindrey followed suit at the ten minute mark to see Heathmont out to an 11 point lead. A free to Jets and SEN Team of the Year centre half forward Leigh Odermatt saw the margin out to 17 points, and when Horton kicked his second goal from a snap on the second effort, Heathmont had erased their slow first quarter from the 2007 grand final from their memory as they were out to a 24 point lead at the 28 minute mark. After a wayward opening to the quarter with four behinds, Chirnside finally opened their account at the 29 minute mark of the term, when Sean Gibson slotted through his first to see the Jets 18 points up at quarter time.
Heathmont started the second quarter off in the same fashion, with Kevin Clark kicking a goal on the run to extend the margin out to 23 points, and Daniel Baker kicked his first goal a few minutes later to see Heathmont in front by 29 points six minutes in. Josh Byerlee was winning in the middle, and Chirnside Park were struggling for targets up forward as the Jets half back line was working well with Michael Fraser providing plenty of run. Dean De Monk – working in tandem with Aaron Pettinella in the ruck – drifted forward to kick Chirnside’s first goal of the second term, but Odermatt was quick to reply for the Jets, having the early advantage over his opponent Scott Hamill and saw Heathmont regain a 29 point lead.
After Odermatt’s goal, the rest of the term belonged to Chirnside Park as De Monk started to have an influence on the game, along with Stephen Pepping and James Iacona. De Monk kicked his second of the term and it started a run of three in a row for the Panthers, as Iacona kicked his first on the run, and Damian Noorman ALSO kicked one on the run to see Chirnside reduce the margin to eight points at half time. Inaccuracy towards goal hampered Chirnside Park’s attempts to reduce the margin further.
For anyone that had attended the division four second semi final match a fortnight prior, they would have been wondering if they had stepped back in time as Heathmont opened the third quarter with three goals in a row – just as they had in the semi. Horton kicked his third goal of the game with a great shot on the run, and when Daniel Baker kicked his second goal of the game, Heathmont had kicked out to a 22 point lead. Heathmont looked in total control once again as Al Knudsen kicked one on the run to put Heathmont 30 points in front 10 minutes into the term. But history seemed to be repeating as Chirnside Park started to attack down the other end – only resulting in a behind. When Odermatt kicked his third goal at the 17 minute mark, Heathmont were out to a 35 point lead.
With history not following exactly the same path way as the second semi (in that game Heathmont kicked the first three goals of the quarter, and we up by 37 points at the 10 minute mark of the term before Chirnside Park kicked the next seven goals in a row – including the last three goals of the third term) Chirnside Park were still not finished with as they again staged a comeback. Led by captain Pepping, Chirnside finished with the final three goals of the term, and once again turned the ascendency their way heading into the final term. Pepping kicked his first goal at the 19 minute mark reducing the margin to 29 points from an intercept, but missed another opportunity from a free kick even before the ball got time to head back to the middle. Soon after though Noorman scored his second and Matt Cousins kicked one on the run to draw within 15 points of Heathmont at three quarter time.
It was set up for a thrilling finale to the grand final match, but after Chirnside Park missed their first scoring opportunity of the term with the bounce not favouring Noorman, Heathmont made no mistake with Odermatt kicking his fourth goal to take the Jets back to a 20 point lead. But Chirnside captain Stephen Pepping then started a one man revival, as he kicked the next two goals in a row to bring the margin back to 8 points at the 10 minute mark of the final quarter. The margin was reduced further to just two points when Noorman kicked his third goal, and the game was in the balance 14 minutes in. Both teams starting swinging the changes, with Chirnside pushing De Monk and Pettinella forward forcing Jets backup ruck Rade Djuric into defense, whilst Heathmont saw Byerlee head to the bench holding his shoulder, and Odermatt was moved into the ruck. Chirnside drew to within a point but Heathmont scored the steadier when Daniel Baker kicked his third goal to see the Jets seven points up at the 18 minute mark.
The crowd was on the edge of their seats, with the ball bouncing between both forward 50’s. Pepping once again put his team into attack and with De Monk roving the pack Chirnside Park was back within two points at the 25 minute mark of the term. Both defenses were under extreme pressure in the final minutes of the game, but it was Heathmont who squandered opportunities to seal the match when Odermatt marked and missed from the right forward pocket – putting it out on the full in the left forward pocket - and Daniel Baker grabbed the ball at the back of the pack but kicked a behind to put the margin back to three points. Chirnside Park cleared the ball to the scoreboard side wing, but the defensive effort by Heathmont continued to force the ball out of bounds. From the second boundary throw in, the siren sounded, and Heathmont had held on for a three point victory – and the 2008 division four premiership.
Heathmont were well led by Josh Byerlee in the ruck – who returned to the field after taking a knock to the shoulder in the final quarter - who was awarded the Frank Bibby best on ground medal. He was well supporter by his captain Horton, the Knudsens x 2, Odermatt at centre half forward, and Peter Forsyth and Fraser in defense. Chirnside Park left their run for the premiership too late, with their best being Pepping who got them right back into the game, Noorman, Peter Monk, De Monk and Joe Pignataro.
Heathmont will return to division three for the first time since 2006, and with a much younger list then their last foray into the higher division after their 2004 premiership win, expect to see the Jets fly into 2009 high on confidence.
