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Eastland 2024 Season Review | Balwyn

Updated: Feb 11

 


Proving the doubters wrong, the Tigers won their 15th senior premiership in 2024, defeating East Ringwood in the Premier Division Grand Final.


Senior Men’s

Ladder Position: 2nd (13-5, 148.36%)

Best and Fairest: Chevy Anderson

Leading Goalkicker: Charlie Haley (57 Goals)


Summary:

What a season for the Tigers, Balwyn winning their first senior premiership since 2016, doing it dramatically on Grand Final Day.


Brenton Sanderson’s group had the perfect start to the year, winning the opening ten games before their first loss.


Defensively, they proved to be one of the hardest sides to score against, just once in the opening twelve games did a team kick ten goals or more against them. This proved to translate well in the finals series.


The team’s form dropped off slightly in the second half of the year but they were always in a strong position to guarantee the double chance. A second-placed finish saw Balwyn meet Rowville in the first week of the finals. A statement finals victory sent Balwyn through to a second semi-final meeting with East Ringwood, after the Tigers were too strong for the reigning premiers, winning out by twenty points.


Meeting a red-hot Roos outfit in the Semi-Final, Balwyn had the game played on their terms. After Quarter Time, they led at every change and took the most of their chances, accurate in front of the goal to be the first side to qualify for the Grand Final.


Exactly two weeks later they met in the decider at Bayswater Oval, a strikingly similar game which saw Balwyn claim their first premiership in eight years.


Key Players:

The Balwyn Skipper Charlie Haley was phenomenal yet again in 2024. The leading goalkicker in the division, Haley finished the season with 57 goals for the year and a Team of the Year spot.


Best on Ground in the Grand Final, Bowen Smith took his game to a new level in 2024, averaging 25 disposals and 7 clearances.


The big man Chevy Anderson was crowned the club’s best and fairest. The experienced star averaged 37 hitouts per game for the season.


Ex-AFL Star Kayne Turner joined Balwyn and had an immediate impact, also voted the side’s best finals player across their three finals games.


Best Win: Grand Final – Balwyn 7.11 53 def. East Ringwood 7.9 51 @Bayswater Oval


What a game and what a day for the Balwyn Football Club, taking out the premiership in a thrilling two-point victory.


The Tigers made the quick start, leading at the main break by 17 points, having had 13 scoring shots to six. Their biggest challenge came in the third term with their defence under a ton of pressure with East Ringwood pushing.


For the first time in the game, the Roos hit the lead early in the fourth goal but Balwyn quickly bounced back with back-to-back goals via Will La Motte and Jake Sticca. 


A late East Ringwood goal wasn’t enough to overturn the result, Balwyn held on for a famous Grand Final win.


Bowen Smith who kicked the opening goal of the game and was incredible across the ground was awarded the best on ground honours.


Off-Season Focus:

Balwyn is only going to get stronger in 2025 with its recruiting.


Former Carlton VFL captain Lachie Young has joined the side, the defender taking on a playing-assistant role with the club. They’ve also managed to add Jarrod Lienert who is currently playing with the North Melbourne VFL side, and Sturt premiership wingman Steven Slimming moves from the SANFL.


East Burwood's best and fairest Jaymie Kempson also joins the club ahead of the 2025 season.


In other exciting club news, the Tigers have announced the club’s first Senior Women’s team to compete in the Eastern Football Netball League. Penny Cula-Reid, the Collingwood VFLW premiership coach has been announced as the club’s inaugural head coach.




Netball

Balwyn Tigers (Division Six): 3rd, 9-3


Not only did the Tigers take home the premiership in the senior men’s football, but the club also won the Division Six netball flag.


Balwyn finished third on the ladder, winning nine games for the season. Their finals run started with an impressive ten-point win over Rowville before they stunned an undefeated Vermont team in the Preliminary Final.


On Grand Final Night, a quick start against Park Orchards in the first quarter was extended at each change as they went on to win 37-27 and the Division Six premiership.

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