EFL: Vermont continues winning ways with a 25-point win over Balwyn

BALWYN has lost three games in a row for the first time in 23 years after a 25-point defeat at the hands of Vermont, putting the Tigers outside the top five near the halfway mark of the season.

Dylan Collis flies for a mark on Saturday. Picture: Andy Brownbill

BALWYN has lost three games in a row for the first time in 23 years after a 25-point defeat at the hands of Vermont on Saturday.

An undermanned Tigers put in an admirable effort against the table-topping Eagles, who controlled the contest for much of the duration at Cherry Rd.

The 10.15 (75) to 6.4 (40) result was the first time Balwyn has dropped three consecutive games since rounds 6 to 8 in 1995 when they were in Division 2 of the Southern league.

The defeat also puts Balwyn a game outside the top five with a 4-4 record ahead of next weekend’s stand-alone Eastern Football League fixture against Noble Park, who have won five of its past seven games in Tiger territory.

Balwyn coach Rodney Eade was at his prickly best when asked if his side was still in the finals hunt.

“That’s a typical media question, I think you know the answer to that,” Eade said.

Missing from its best team included Lachlan Bain, Yarran Jaffer-Williams, Luke Barker, Tom Roach, Charlie Haley, Cam Manuel, Jayme Gottliebsen, Connor Byrne and Ayden Kennedy.

Chevy Andersen lays a tackle on Vermont’s Tom Schneider. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The Tigers had 11 players with 15 senior games or less, handing debuts to Daniel Scala, Nick Chancellor and Zac Elliott.

Oakleigh Chargers-listed forward Scala was a lively option in attack, booting three goals to be the home side’s only multiple goalkicker.

While Vermont never looked like losing, the Eagles also did not look like turning the game into a 10-plus goal win, as they had done in their previous four games.

Brett Eddy booted four goals but could have finished with close to double that figure had it not been for a few missed opportunities, while Joe Fisher put in another best afield performance for the Eagles.

Eade praised his side’s endeavour against the premiership favourites.

“Vermont are a really good side, obviously the best side in the competition, they had a couple out but they had a pretty strong side so to do what we did today was pleasing,” Eade said.

“We lost our way a little bit at times, made some errors, which you’re going to expect with such a young squad, but I was really pleased with our effort, I thought they hung in there really well.

“It just shows there is a bit of grit among the group, there’s a bit of character, which Balwyn has been renowned for, but we need to have that every week.”