Week 2 - Eastern Football League

FrOSTY’S eFl THerMOMeTer
Each week, Peter Baird takes a look at the EFL teams or players that are catching our attention, whether their
form be good or bad. After careful deliberation, Peter puts the thermometer on the EFL and gives you his weekly
nomination as to who’s hot and who’s cold.
on fire
It is always a huge task to back up from a successful
year that sees you promoted to a new higher division.
The euphoria and celebration that follows after
claiming a premiership or dominating a competition is
sometimes short lived. Reality can often bite hard with
the step up to a faster, more intense brand of football the
following year. This was the prospect facing two clubs
making the climb from Division 4 last year. Nothing
separated Heathmont and the Glen Waverley Hawks
when the siren sounded at the end of regulation time in
last year’s Division 4 Grand Final, and only after extra
time did Heathmont claim the flag. It seemed fitting
with the expansion of the EFL Division 3 competition
to 12 teams in 2012 that both teams would get the
opportunity to test themselves in the higher division.
The big question though: how would they go? In
recent history, the Jets have suffered a bit of the yo-yo
effect, struggling the year following every promotion
and finding themselves quickly relegated back to
where they came from. There must have been some
trepidation for the Glen Waverley Hawks as well, with
the last club making the move to Division 3 without
claiming a premiership the year before (Kilsyth in
2010) being relegated back to Division 4 the following
year. Early indications are that both teams have what
it takes to make an impact in 2012. Heathmont was
very impressive in Round 1, disposing of the highly
fancied Templestowe Dockers to the tune of 38 points.
Despite leading by 41 points at three-quarter time and
losing the lead in the dying minutes of the game, the
Glen Waverley Hawks had the composure to steady and
hold on for a hard fought four-point victory against a
resurgent Wantirna South. By making a statement in
Division 3 with eye-catching victories, both the Glen
Waverley Hawks and Heathmont Jets take their place
in Frosty’s Furnace for heating up the EFL.
gone CoLD
Last year could only be described as a disappointing
season for the Whitehorse Pioneers. With only three
wins to its name and bottom position on the Division
3 ladder, the Pioneers were looking towards 2012 as an
opportunity to regain some respect. With the expansion
of the Division 3 competition to 12 teams this year, the
Pioneers were given a relegation reprieve and were able
to maintain their Division 3 status. Coach Tony Vitacca
was buoyant in the preseason, stating ‘things were
looking up’ for the Pioneers with their young list ready
to take on the challenges of 2012. It was never going
to be an easy however. With ground redevelopments
occurring at their regular home, Springfield Park, the
Pioneers were forced to look elsewhere to play their
home games this year. Unfamiliar surroundings will
greet the Pioneers with three home games at Walker
Park and six at Whitehorse Reserve, which will make
the task harder. A Round 1 appointment with perennial
Division 3 finalist North Ringwood, who was looking
to make a statement after its shock loss to Doncaster
in the 2011 Grand Final, was not the start the Pioneers
had hoped for. The result though was worse than even
the most pessimistic observer could have predicted. It
was confirmation that it may be a long year ahead for
Whitehorse. A 102-point humbling at the hands of the
Saints was a dose of reality for the Pioneers who now
face the prospect of hosting a revitalised Mitcham in a
home game at Walker Park – the normal home of the
Tigers. It is only early on in the year, but the Pioneers
will need to turn their form around very quickly and
climb out of Frosty’s Freezer if they wish to salvage
their 2012 season.
THe eaSTerN FOOTBaller
eaCh anD eVerY weeK at Your senior grounD, the eastern
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11 THE EASTERN FOOTBALLER 2012