SEASON REVIEW – BALWYN

By Matt Fotia

Overview

2021 for Balwyn, like most of the Southeast population of Australia, will be the year where lockdowns scuppered their September plans.

The Tigers were timing their run to perfection, pushing their fellow Premier Division opponents aside with ease and were primed to head into the makeshift finals as the short-priced favourite.

At their best they were free flowing, rising to be the division’s number two ranked offence with majority of their scores starting in the back half of the ground, a contrast to most sides territory-based style.

Best Win – Balwyn 17.11(113) def Noble Park 11.12(78)

Given their patchy early season form and the lack of football in the weeks preceding their clash with the Bulls (lockdown induced), this win was the first sign that Rodney Eade’s Tigers has started to click, as they put the then league pacesetters to the sword at Cherry Road.

They jumped up to a seven-goal lead at quarter time, but a Kyle Martin led Noble pulled themselves back to within a kick at the final change, before Balwyn put on the afterburners to cruise home with six-goal-to-one final term.

Much was written about Noble Park’s star performances after the fixture, but Balwyn’s big guns also stood tall, with Jeff Gobbels and Charlie Haley standing up with seven goals between them. The leadership duo carried on this form for the rest of the season and alongside Jordan Lisle combined to be the most dangerous forward half in the East.

Worst Loss – Balwyn 9.12(66) def by Berwick 10.17(77)

Given the way the season wound up, with no finals series and Balwyn finishing inside the top three, this game was merely a slip up from a side coming to terms with its style, system and new squad members.

Still, it’s an afternoon that Eade’s men will want to forget – or perhaps use as motivation – in years to come. The Tigers allowed 27 scoring shots and conceded six goals in the last quarter as they went down to the new boys on the block at home.

Star Player

His personality screams star attraction and in 2021 Charlie Haley well and truly lived up to that mantra, leading the Tigers forward half as they cut open sides with ease in the second half of the season.

He topped the Premier Division Goal-Kicking charts and proved the toughest match-up in the division, kicking multiple goals in six of his seven games, including four goal hauls against Blackburn and Doncaster, a bag of six against South Croydon and the perfect 10 against Rowville.

There is no doubt a temptation to run Haley through the middle of the ground more often, given his explosiveness and agility around the stoppages, but I would refrain.

Opposition sides would be more than happy to see Haley collect 30 touches a game next season if it means he spends 50% less time around goals. Keep him close to goal and watch the crowds – and wins – flood back to the Tigers’ den.

Off-Season Plans

Whilst the previous 450 words or so were pretty much detailing the beginning of a Balwyn dynasty, there is a few overarching issues that still need ironing out before the Tigers return to their previous powers.

Mainly it’s the need to put the wheels in motion for life after the current-day champions. There are signs that this is being addressed, with the Tigers Under 19 side finishing 4th in the Premier Division this season, but their Reserves continued to struggle winding up 2021 in 9th.

Bringing the next generation through and closing the gap between the 12pm show and the 2pm dance will make sure that Balwyn remain at the pointy end of the EFNL for years to come.