EFL 2019: Vermont claims 45-point win over Balwyn in Premier Division

Balwyn coach Rodney Eade says Vermont is a “five or six goals better” side than its Premier Division rivals after watching the Eagles claim a 45-point win over his Tigers.

Robbie Ross was Vermont’s best player. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Balwyn coach Rodney Eade was left in little doubt as to which side is the team to beat in Eastern Football League Premier Division this season.

Balwyn led by three points at quarter-time before Vermont, led by Robbie Ross in the ruck and Brett Eddy up forward, booted 11 of the next 12 majors to score a 45-point win at Cherry Rd.

“They’re the frontrunner, there’s no doubt,” Eade said when asked if Vermont was the team to beat.

“They’ve got some good size over the ground, some good midfielders and obviously an attack that can kick some goals.

“I think the rest of the competition will be chasing them. They’re certainly the best side.”

Balwyn and Blackburn are viewed as the two sides most likely to challenge the defending premiers this season, but the 16.16 (112) to 9.13 (67) scoreline highlighted the gap between Vermont and the chasing pack in 2019.

Balwyn coach Rodney Eade. Picture: Stuart Milligan

The Eagles also defeated Blackburn by 35 points in Round 4.

The Tigers were missing Kris Pendlebury, Cam Manuel and James Freeman.

Eddy kicked seven goals, taking his tally to 17 in the past two weeks, while Ross was the dominant big man on the ground.

Eade said his side was hurt by tall targets Eddy and Ainger, who kicked three goals, and Vermont’s “ability to move the ball quickly”.

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“Our defenders were always under the pump, they won it in the midfield consistently and our defenders were really struggling,” he said.

“They were really organised. They missed a few shots, like we did, we could have been closer but they were always the better side.”

Eade said Vermont was “certainly five or six goals better than all of us at the moment”.

“There’s still a long way to go ... a lot of things can happen,” he said.

“We’ll take some learnings out of it and get some improvement in some guys, but certainly the way they play, they’ve got a pretty even spread across their team.

“They’ve got quite a good depth in the midfield and good quality.”

Balwyn’s next assignment will be the standalone Queen’s Birthday clash against Noble Park on Saturday.

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