EFL: Luke Barker and Jeff Gobbels combine for 11 goals as Balwyn scores a 23-point win over Knox

LUKE Barker and Jeff Gobbles combined for 11 goals as Balwyn scored a 23-point win over a plucky Knox, lifting the Tigers’ record to 2-1.

Jeff Gobbels kicked five goals on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

MUCH has been said that Vermont has the best forward line in the Eastern Football League Division 1 competition.

With Brett Eddy, Andrew Ainger and Jake Best, the Eagles boast possibly the most dangerous three-pronged attack in suburban football.

But don’t forget what Balwyn has at its disposal.

Luke Barker and Jeff Gobbles combined for 11 goals on Saturday as Balwyn scored a 23-point win over a plucky Knox.

Balwyn kept the Falcons at arm’s length for much of the contest to finish with a 19.11 (125) to 15.12 (102) victory.

But it was Barker and Gobbles’ influence up forward that proved the difference, the pair quinellaing the best players with six and five goals respectively to show the Tigers will still be a forced to be reckoned with in 2018 after last year’s straight sets exit from finals.

Both Barker and Gobbles have a dozen goals from the opening three rounds of the EFL season, while recruit Charlie Haley has 10 majors to sit in third on the leading goalkickers tally.

Barker’s past two seasons have been ruined by injury, managing just seven games since the 2015 premiership but he has been in ominous form to start the campaign.

“He’s kicked two, four and six so he is going well, he is leading well, he’s playing up the ground a bit, he’s mixing his game up, he’s not just being a one-dimensional forward,” Balwyn coach Rodney Eade said.

“From that aspect it has been really pleasing for him.”

Balwyn led by seven goals halfway through the final term before Knox kicked the last four goals of the game.

Eade said he was disappointed with parts of his side’s showing.

“We weren’t pleased with the way we performed, Knox played well so full credit to them but it was a tough, tight game,” he said.

“They played well, we didn’t defend very well across the ground so was really disappointed in certain aspects of our game.”