EFNL Premier Division: Balwyn topples ladder-leader East Ringwood

Balwyn has put the Eastern league’s Premier Division on notice following a big win over the ladder-leader on Saturday ...

Eastern league power Balwyn has surged into top spot after dethroning ladder-leader East Ringwood, putting the competition on notice.

The Tigers led comfortably at all changes in the 14.17 (101) to 6.9 (45) win on Saturday, jumping into first on percentage ahead of Vermont and East Ringwood, with the ‘Roos sliding to third.

Balwyn senior coach Brenton Sanderson credited his side’s second quarter as the catalyst in the victory, limiting the ‘Roos’ scoring with the wind while extending a 16-point quarter-time margin to 37 points at the half.

Alex Urban was best afield with three goals. Photo: Hamish Blair

“The boys were fantastic and we just had a really good team contribution – there wasn’t too many guys down on their best and we had some injury worries,” Sanderson said.

“Obviously Charlie Haley missed the game and we’ve still got a few guys out so it was good to have a really solid contribution from most of our younger players.

“We’ve got so much respect for what East Ringwood have done this year and they’ve been really hard to beat.

“It was such a windy day, potentially we just played the conditions a little bit better and they were probably five per cent off their best and we were able to take advantage.”

Midfielder Alex Urban stood out with three majors in a best-afield display.

“His ability as a midfielder to be able to go forward and hit the scoreboard as well – with a bit of firepower out of our forward line I guess it was important that our mids got forward,” Sanderson said.

Urban wasn’t the only Tiger earning the praise of the coach, with debutant Callum Bradley lighting it up across half-forward.

“He was part of that forward line which provided lots of pressure which was great,” Sanderson said.

“He’s been playing really well in the reserves but just hasn’t been able to get a spot with our forward line with guys like (Daniel) Quinn and (Josh) Sticca playing well … with Charlie (Haley) out it gave us a chance to have a look at him.”

A broken hand suffered against Blackburn last round will force gun forward Charlie Haley to miss between four and six weeks according to Sanderson.

But a two-goal return from Jack Tillig alongside Bradley’s emergence has the coach bullish about covering for Haley’s loss.

“It’s not ideal, but we brought in Jack Tillig yesterday who played forward so hopefully him and Cal Bradley can be the ones that step up for us,” Sanderson said.

Balwyn shares a 9-3 record with Vermont and East Ringwood and hosts the former in a 1 v. 2 clash next weekend.

Balwyn 4.2, 7.7, 9.11, 14.17 (101)

East Ringwood 1.4, 1.6, 4.8, 6.9 (45)

Balwyn

Goals:

A. Urban 3, J. Tillig 2, B. Smith 2, I. Markovsky 2, J. Gobbels, D. Quinn, J. Lisle, N. Oakes, S. Cross

Best:

A. Urban, C. Andersen, I. Markovsky, A. Britten, B. Smith, C. Bradley

East Ringwood

Goals:

A. Swierzbiolek, T. Marotta, S. Ali, T. Farmer, J. Belo, W. MacRae

Best:

D. Belo, A. Swierzbiolek, E. Wynne, D. Delaney, J. Belo, Z. Cileceken