EFL 2018: Balwyn in danger of finals miss as loss to South Croydon leaves season on brink

BALWYN is in danger of missing its first finals series in 23 years after falling out of the Division 1 top five for the first time in a month.

Rodney Eade, senior coach of Balwyn addresses his players during quarter time at Balwyn Park in Melbourne, Saturday, June 29, 2018. EFL (Div 1): Balwyn v Montrose. (AAP Image/James Ross) NO ARCHIVING

BALWYN is in danger of missing its first finals series in 23 years after falling out of the Division 1 top five for the first time in a month on Saturday.

Balwyn’s three-game winning streak came to an end after a 35-point loss against South Croydon, dropping the Tigers to sixth and a game outside finals reckoning on the Eastern Football League table.

The Bulldogs controlled the contest from the outset at Cheong Park and led by as much as 26 points midway through the third term.

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Kris Pendlebury throws his boot at the ball. Picture: Mark Dadswell.

But when Jeff Gobbels slotted his fifth goal at the nine-minute mark of the final term, the margin was just six points.

That proved to be as close as Balwyn would get though as South Croydon kicked the final five goals of the game to score its ninth consecutive victory, easing to a 16.7 (103) to 10.8 (68) win.

The result also means South Croydon is the first side this year to record wins over each of the other top five sides.

“They were the better side, there’s no doubt about that,” Balwyn coach Rodney Eade said.

“We worked hard … they moved the ball well, they were a bit smarter than us, used the conditions as well, home crowd, home ground, they just played it a bit better than what we did.”

Pat Rosier and Chris Jones were both influential with three goals for the winners, while Balwyn recruit Will Stephenson was in the visitors’ best players in his first game for the Tigers after being cleared from Rowville on Wednesday.

Stephenson is listed with VFL clubs Casey Demons but has not played in Rowville’s seniors since the Round 9 loss to South Croydon.

He will ironically play against Rowville next weekend.

“We had a call from Casey, Jade Rawlings wasn’t happy with him playing in the seconds and asked if we were prepared to take him,” Eade said.

“He was one of our better players, if you’re going to win you need an even contribution and we had so many blokes down that we didn’t really give ourselves a chance.”