Rodney Eade makes Eastern Football League coaching debut as Balwyn suffers seven-point loss to Vermont

FORMER Sydney, Western Bulldogs and Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade made his coaching return over the weekend, only this time it was a long way from the AFL spotlight.

Balwyn coach Rodney Eade. Picture: Valeriu Campan

FROM the Suns to the suburbs.

Rodney Eade returned to the coaching ranks on Saturday, only this time it was away from the glare of the AFL spotlight.

The former Sydney, Western Bulldogs and Sydney mentor was calling the shots at Balwyn in the Eastern Football League, suffering a seven-point Round 1 loss at the hands of rival Vermont.

Rodney Eade at quarter-time. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“It was enjoyable, there was a good bit of passion around the ground, there was some good support for both teams and the game was played in the right spirit,” Eade said.

“It was testing at times but it was a really good standard, guys who have come from VFL said how quick it was so I think from that aspect it was a good game.”

The Tigers were left two short on the bench by the last quarter after Collingwood VFL player Ryan Pendlebury (hamstring) and Jarryd Chirgwin (knee) went down with injuries.

Vermont led by just two points at the final change before kicking four of the opening five goals of the last quarter to open a 20-point buffer by the 17-minute mark.

But two goals in the space of a couple of minutes to Luke Barker and Lachlan Bain trimmed the margin to just eight points with five minutes remaining on the clock before the Eagles held on for a 15.8 (98) to 14.7 (91) victory.

Recruit Charlie Haley kicked four goals, while star defender Kris Pendlebury was adjudged Balwyn’s best player.

“I was pretty pleased with our effort actually, we didn’t play extremely well but I thought they showed quite a bit of spirit, it was a good game, it was tough and hard from both sides so overall I was reasonably pleased,” Eade said.

“I think it was pretty even, I think we had our chances, I think whoever won the game could have said they were lucky or unlucky.

“It was pretty even all game, not a lot of difference between the two sides.”