EFNL 2025: Balwyn ‘back on track’ as star names eye return

The reigning premier went winless through the first fortnight – but with three victories on the trot and star names filtering back, Balwyn’s campaign is beginning to take shape.

Balwyn coach Brenton Sanderson has guided his side to three straight wins to right the ship. (Photo by Josh Chadwick)

ZERO and two has quickly turned into three and two.

Eastern league top division reigning premier Balwyn is back with the pack following three wins on the trot after starting its flag defence winless from the first fortnight at the hands of Blackburn and Rowville.

The Tigers have rebounded with victories over Mitcham (38 points), Berwick (20), and South Croydon by 15 points on Saturday to jump into fourth spot.

“What the results show now is Blackburn and Rowville have had great starts to the year and are probably going to be two of the teams that could feature towards the end of the season,” Balwyn coach Brenton Sanderson said.

“We got two determined, good sides to start the year off and we were definitely not at our best.

“A few retirements at the end of last season probably impacted that, but we felt we recruited well and we’ve found a way to get things back on track a little bit over the last few weeks, even though we haven’t hit our straps yet.”

EFNL 2025: Balwyn fell to a red-hot Blackburn on Good Friday before a loss to Rowville. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Sanderson said his side’s offence left plenty of room for improvement, having kicked more than 100 points just once this season.

“We’re not really kicking big scores, but having said that, we didn’t do that in the finals last year, but we still found a way to win,” he said.

“It was like that on Saturday too against South Croydon … it was pretty slippery and nasty, but to the boys’ credit they hit the scoreboard early in the first quarter and ultimately that was the difference in the game, I guess.”

The Tigers on Saturday regained premiership pair Nathan Oakes (from a navicular injury suffered in last year’s grand final) and starting ruckman Chevy Andersen from a Round 1 calf complaint.

Meanwhile, developing ruckman Nikita Yiannakoudakis will be out for six to eight weeks after broken ribs and a punctured lung in the weekend’s victory, joining Aiden Glassborow on the sidelines, who suffered a broken wrist in Round 4.

“He’s out until probably the end of the year as well … they’ve (injuries) come in big waves, so you’ve got to have a deep squad available for selection,” Sanderson said.

But a handful of key names were expected to return after the May 31 bye in time for the club’s annual King’s Birthday blockbuster clash with Noble Park.

Ex-AFL man Josh Walker – who suffered a hamstring injury in Round 2 – is among those, alongside Ben Silvagni (shoulder), while Josh Wise was “a few weeks away” according to the coach.

“We’ll start to get a few guys back here and there,” Sanderson said.

Balwyn is away to fifth-placed Doncaster East on Saturday.