EFNL Premier Division 2024: Balwyn through to first grand final since 2016

The Tigers will return to the stage they made their own last decade, qualifying for their first Eastern top-flight grand final since 2016. And a handful of names could make a comeback ...

Balwyn coach Brenton Sanderson. Photo by Josh Chadwick

An eight-year wait is over – but only half the job is done.

Balwyn is through to its first senior grand final since 2016 after pipping minor premier East Ringwood by three points on Saturday.

The Tigers, which finished the home-and-away season in second with a 13-5 record to earn a finals double chance, will await the winner of this weekend’s East Ringwood-Rowville prelim.

Balwyn coach Brenton Sanderson said his charges had slogged their way through two tough finals after also overcoming reigning premier Rowville by 20 points a fortnight ago.

“If you gave me the option of a prelim or a week off, I’d take the week off – it’s been a long year and the boys have been up for a long time,” he said.

“After two hard finals, it’s a good chance to recover, and have a couple of light sessions this week.

“We’ll still run a match-simulation on Saturday so we’ll still make sure we get a good hitout.”

Saturday’s nail-biter produced just three second-half goals – with the Tigers kicking only one of those to hang on after leading by 13 points at the main break.

Sanderson conceded there was an element of luck.

“The game could have gone either way – East Ringwood had their opportunities to pinch victory from us,” he said.

“It was quite hard to watch for both teams’ supporters – both teams didn’t really take their chances.

“East Ringwood probably had more of the play in the last quarter in particular – their captain (James) Belo was fantastic.

“I think sometimes in finals it’s the luck of the bounce sometimes, and fortunately for us, the luck went our way.”

Former North Melbourne VFL name Louis Cunningham finished Balwyn’s best-afield, while ex-Werribee man Noah Lever fired through the midfield.

“He (Cunningham) missed a lot of footy this year for us but every time he plays we rely on him for a bit of run and direction from half-back,” Sanderson said.

“He’s a bit of an on-field coach for us, he sees the game so well … the times we’ve had him this year he’s been really important to us.”

Three Tigers are in the frame for a grand final return, with Sandringham VFL talent Vince Zigari overcoming a concussion suffered in the last home-and-away match, Nathan Oakes missed last weekend with a foot concern, while Josh Wise would be “touch and go” as he battles a back injury.

“There’s potentially three changes on grand final day, depending on whether those boys get up,” Sanderson said.

Once a mainstay on the Eastern league’s biggest stage of the year, the occasion of Balwyn’s return certainly wasn’t lost on the coach.

The club played in five consecutive deciders from 2012-16 last decade, winning four – including its last appearance eight years ago.

“The Eastern league is such a great competition – even the teams that missed out (on finals) this year are quality sides,” Sanderson said.

“But to beat Rowville in week one and East Ringwood in week two, it’s only half the job – we need to show up on grand final day and perform at our best.”