by Dan Campbell (Twitter: @DC_Sting)
FOUR stars aligned for Rennie Gilchrist as Balwyn defeated Noble Park by 46 points in the Division 1 Grand Final at Bayswater Oval.
The Tigers claimed football’s Holy Grail – their third EFL flag – accomplishing back-to-back flags following on from their 2012 triumph.
Gilchrist was named best on ground, winning the Blue Ribbon Medal – and Rennie shared it all with his younger brother Taylor.
For Rennie, no task on today’s proverbial ‘to-do list’ went unchecked.
A premiership – check. Back to back premierships – check. A premiership with brother Taylor – check. Blue Ribbon Medal – check.
It’s the perfect storm for climbing the EFL’s mountain of greatness.
The feeling of raw emotion overwhelmed the Balwyn skipper moments after being awarded the Blue Ribbon Medal, as it would after claiming one of the league’s most coveted rewards.
Gilchrist says it will be an achievement to be cherished in the years to come.
‘It feels good. I haven’t really thought about it yet. I’m sure that later on in my life that I’ll reflect on it and really appreciate it, but right now I’m just happy to get the premiership medallion,’ he said.
Playing alongside brother, Taylor Gilchrist in Saturday afternoon’s glory holds a sentimental place in the footballing heart of the Balwyn skipper.
Speaking during the week of the possibility of hoisting a cup with Taylor being a ‘dream come true’, such dreams came to fruition today.
And, as one of those four stars aligned today, to play alongside Taylor seems a star long wished upon.
‘[It feels] amazing. To embrace him after the game is a dream for me, so hopefully we can really have fun tonight and kick on to next year and hopefully do it again,’ Rennie said.
To win one EFL Division 1 premiership is considered an ‘Everest’ task, especially considering only three clubs have accomplished such a feat in the last eight seasons.
But to win back-to-back flags surely sits Balwyn as the new juggernaut of the Eastern Football League, which today dethroned Noble Park, the last side to accomplish the feat in 2010 and 2011.
If 2012’s triumph of defeating one of the EFL’s perennial powerhouses in Vermont did not have the critics convinced, then Saturday’s display most certainly would.
And to captain back-to-back flags, and claim the Blue Ribbon Medal, surely sits Rennie Gilchrist in both Balwyn’s all-time greats, and the EFL’s illustrious immortals.
Gilchrist says both flags are special in their own right, however season 2013 came packaged with pressure and expectation to which many clubs before them have wilted.
‘Last year was a bit unexpected from fifth, but we just had really good belief. This year we had a lot of pressure coming on us the whole finals series and all year through. To be able to rise to that challenge and win is great.’
As the Tigers celebrate long into the night, the four stars that aligned today for Rennie Gilchrist will shine down brightly on the leafy suburbs of Balwyn’s Cherry Road festivities.