EFNL 2023: Noble Park upsets Balwyn in King’s Birthday weekend special

Noble Park toppled ladder-leader Balwyn in the annual King’s Birthday weekend clash on Saturday, with one man producing his best game for the club.

REIGNING premier Noble Park has stunned the Eastern league Premier Division leader in the annual King’s Birthday weekend fixture.

The Bulls led at all changes to hand Balwyn just its second defeat of the season in the 12.15 (87) to 6.10 (46) victory, bringing an end to the Tigers’ four-game winning run.

Noble Park senior coach Steve Hughes credited the “main ingredient” in his side’s 41-point win at Balwyn Park to a buy-in to “sustained pressure”.

“It’s far and away our best performance so far – a complete four-quarter performance with contributors everywhere,” Hughes said.

“I think our pressure around the ball, which on a small ground, was going to tell a tale more often than not – it was sustained pressure as well and I just felt like every player got their hands dirty and were happy to buy in to all the defensive elements of our game.”

Best afield Jack Francis stood out in defence among a multi-pronged Balwyn attack featuring the likes of Jordan Lisle, Jeff Gobbels and Charlie Haley.

Noble Park’s Jack Francis played his best game for the club according to the coach. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“That was Jack’s best game for our footy club, and probably daylight second, to be honest – he was outstanding,” Hughes said.

“We’ve moved him down back and he had a huge amount of intercept marks.

“I’d suggest he probably took in the vicinity of six or seven in the third quarter – and good marks too – I call him ‘Jumpin’ Jack’ for a reason.”

Meanwhile, young gun Bodey Lambert – brother of VFL talent Bailey and son of former AFL man Craig – earned high praise from the coach.

“He’s been toiling away trying to get into the side,” Hughes said.

“We’ve brought him in as a small defensive forward, and we have a defensive scorecard which we run each week for individuals – he blew it up yesterday.

“His pressure around the forward-50 was incredible.”

The win boosts the Bulls after a lean month, who entered the match with just two wins from their previous five matches.

They sit fourth on the ladder with a 6-3 record at the halfway mark of the season.

Hughes lamented lapses in pressure in the losses to top-six outfits Doncaster East and Vermont – but saw a return to form in his side’s 61-point rout of Park Orchards last weekend.

“We’ve been up and down a little bit, and I felt like last week we’d turned the corner against Park Orchards, and that was our first four-quarter performance,” he said.

“But the proof was in the pudding yesterday that we’re starting to find our mojo a bit – I’m really proud of the boys to turn the corner at 6-3.”

Balwyn 0.3, 3.8, 3.9, 6.10 (46)

Noble Park 3.3, 7.4, 9.12, 12.15 (87)

Balwyn

Goals:

J. Lisle 2, J. Gobbels, A. Urban, T. Van Driel, C. Haley

Best:

A. Britten, J. Lisle, J. Pollocks, C. Haley, B. Smith, F. Hicks

Noble Park

Goals:

H. Thomas 3, J. Stern 3, L. Scott 2, K. Kean, B. Marson, C. Horton-Milne, J. Casey

Best:

J. Francis, B. Marson, J. Sketcher, L. Bull, B. Lambert, J. Gains