Wantirna South senior coach Jason Heffernan doesn\u2019t expect to see rising star Jett Flower lighting up Walker Reserve for much longer.<\/p>\n
Recently earning a spot in the AFL National Academy squad limited to just 25 talents countrywide, the grandson of late Melbourne legend Robbie Flower ticked every box this season. <\/p>\n
From 11 Talent League matches as a bottom-age player to Vic Metro representative honours \u2013 and a senior debut with Wantirna South in Eastern\u2019s strong Division 1 \u2013 there wasn\u2019t much the 2027 AFL draft prospect couldn\u2019t do.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019d like to think he\u2019s had the year from heaven \u2013 he made the (Eastern) Ranges, the Vic squad as a bottom-age player, played senior football at his local club, played in the futures game and now he\u2019s into the Academy, I think it\u2019s awesome,\u201d Heffernan said of Flower, who also represented St Joseph\u2019s College in the ACC competition. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe might only see him for two or three games next year \u2013 but we also understand we might not see him at all. <\/p>\n
\u201cHe could end up playing some VFL football, to be truthful.\u201d <\/p>\n
Flower has followed a longstanding family history at Wantirna South, with grandfather Robbie once involved in the juniors and father Brad coaching at both underage and senior level.<\/p>\n
Debuting for the Devils at just 16 in April this year, the pacy and versatile wingman turned heads against Beaconsfield \u2013 kicking a goal and finishing among the best afield. <\/p>\n
He donned the senior jumper again in Round 12 \u2013 also against Beacy \u2013 hitting the scoreboard to help the club to a tight win. <\/p>\n
Heffernan said Flower, now 17, had all the tools to make it as a league footballer. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s drive, it\u2019s desire, it\u2019s the work he puts in and the effort \u2013 when he gets on the field he\u2019s got pace, he\u2019s attacking and he\u2019s got flair,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s that hybrid player \u2013 he can play half-back with dash, can play on a wing and break a game open, and he can go forward where he\u2019s a tough match-up \u2026 genuinely you can put him one-out in the goalsquare and he can lead out at pace.\u201d<\/p>\n
But one strength stands out above the coveted rest according to the Devils\u2019 premiership coach.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s got a lot of awesome traits, but the main one is I think he\u2019s extremely coachable,\u201d Heffernan said. <\/p>\n
\u201cI hope we get to see him because I know he does like playing with us \u2013 he\u2019s a ripper.\u201d <\/p>\n
OFF-SEASON & RECRUITING <\/p>\n
Wantirna South has signed Sandringham VFL gun Jhett Haeata \u2013 who split his time between Beaumaris in the VAFA and the state league this year. <\/p>\n
He\u2019s touted to bolster the Devils\u2019 midfield, defence and attack.<\/p>\n
Heffernan said an existing connection sold the Wantirna South program to the 2024 Sandringham Dragons premiership star \u2013 with Haeata set to continue honing his craft in the VFL next year.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe became good friends with (Wantirna South VFL-aligned player) Kyle Cooper at Sandy \u2026 footy\u2019s six degrees of separation, people know people, and I\u2019m also a friend of the Sandringham football manager,\u201d he said, adding senior players Jesse Warner, Liam Hewett and Ryan Muir had been invited to train with Sandringham this pre-season.<\/p>\n
Despite the Devils\u2019 premiership credentials stacking up favourably against their rivals this year, the club was bundled out of the flag race in a heartbreaking first-week exit at the hands of Montrose. <\/p>\n
Heffernan said while the bitter three-point defeat cut deep among the group, there was plenty to like about the club\u2019s first season back in Division 1.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love that the players owned that we probably didn\u2019t perform at our best on that day, no discredit to Montrose, and that\u2019ll be a big driver for us moving forward,\u201d Heffernan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone probably agrees that if you had have said at the start of the year that we\u2019ll go up a division, make the five and just get pipped by three points in the first final \u2026 I think everyone thought that would\u2019ve been a successful year.\u201d <\/p>\n
Led by returning star Lincoln Wong who was crowned the Division 1 league best and fairest for a second time, the coach declared the 2026 campaign signalled the club belonged at the level again.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny of the doubters within our playing group, they now look at it and go \u2018We are good enough to compete at that level\u2019,\u201d Heffernan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe players are really driven \u2013 I can\u2019t fault them.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Wantirna South senior coach Jason Heffernan doesn\u2019t expect to see rising star Jett Flower lighting up Walker 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