EFNL 2024: Ex-state league, AFL talent land at Eastern powerhouse Balwyn

Reigning top-division premier Balwyn has welcomed a swag of recruits, with a former VFL skipper and an ex-AFL defender among the haul. Latest here.

Lachie Young played 47 AFL matches across the Bulldogs and Kangaroos before lacing up for Carlton VFL as co-captain this year. Picture: Rob Lawson

A package of top-drawer recruits has landed at reigning premier Balwyn – including an ex-VFL skipper.

The Eastern league Premier Division power has signed former Carlton VFL co-captain Lachie Young who has stepped away from the state league, while ex-Port Adelaide and St Kilda defender Jarrod Lienert has also linked with the club.

Meanwhile, Sturt premiership wingman Steven Slimming has crossed from the SANFL where he played 150 matches, and recently-crowned East Burwood best and fairest Jaymie Kempson has arrived from the Division 2 outfit.

Balwyn senior coach Brenton Sanderson said Young would serve as a playing-assistant at the Tigers.

The 25-year-old defender spent this year with the Blues after a 47-game AFL stint across the Western Bulldogs and North Melbourne following his pick No. 6 selection in the 2018 rookie draft.

He links with the Eastern club through a connection to long-time Balwyn director of football, Paul Johnson.

“He’s got coaching aspirations, so he’ll play with us and help us out with some coaching as well,” Sanderson said.

“He had a connection (to Johnson) and was able to reach out – we’re grateful he’s decided he was happy to step away from VFL and focus more on his coaching while still playing, so we’re over the moon.

“He’s got so much talent and he’s really versatile – we’ll see what happens with our boys … (his role) will depend a little bit where we’ve got some gaps.”

Lienert played 34 AFL games from 2018 to 2022 before joining North Melbourne’s VFL program last year.

Jarrod Lienert played 23 games for Port from 2018 to 2021 before 11 with the Saints in ‘22. Picture: Mark Stewart

Sanderson, who has a work connection to Lienert, said the state league name was expected to spend most of his time with the Kangaroos next season.

“He’s a coach and plays there as well … he’ll focus his energies on North Melbourne but if there are some opportunities for us to use him (we will),” Sanderson said.

“We’re going to get as many games with him as we can, whether that’s North Melbourne byes or there might be weeks where he’s coaching and not playing with North, if that works with the schedule.

“It won’t be a full-time role with us, it’ll be part-time, and then hopefully he can be available for us for finals. He’ll be awesome for us.”

Slimming has recently moved to Melbourne for work and reunites with Sanderson, who coached him in the AFL national academy almost a decade ago.

Steven Slimming played 150 matches for Sturt. Picture: SANFL Image/David Mariuz

“I coached him in the national academy in 2015-16, and he’s had a really long, successful career with Sturt,” Sanderson said.

“He’s just moved to Melbourne to be the legal counsel for the AFL Players Association – he’s a lawyer.

“I think he was weighing up playing some VFL – I think there’s still a few clubs into him, but at this stage he’s going to play with us which is a great fit.

“He’s super quick, tough, left-footer, a really damaging kick and obviously with a lot of experience and a ton of talent.

“He’ll probably play a variety of roles for us as well … he’s going to be an awesome recruit for us.”

Kempson, a former Oakleigh Charger, featured in all 18 East Burwood matches this season on the way to claiming the club champion award.

The gritty, 21-year-old midfielder averaged some 25 touches a game this year.

“Any time you can strengthen your squad and bring guys across with talent like that, we’re keen to get him involved,” Sanderson said.

The Tigers edged East Ringwood by two points to win the grand final this season – the club’s first senior flag since 2016 – and are set to kick off pre-season in early December.