by Andy Paolacci
THE Balwyn Football Club has claimed the 2013 EFL Division 1 premiership, with a comprehensive 40-point victory over Noble Park, 17.14 (116) to 11.10 (76) at Bayswater Oval today.
It was an irrepressible display from the Tigers, who led at every change to bring in back-to-back flags for the first time under their EFL banner.
As for Noble Park, their stunning final series came to a halt, with their forward supply and ability to run and carry cut short today on the back of some fantastic Balwyn pressure.
For the Tigers, Luke Barker kicked four goals, while Rennie Gilchrist, Jeff Gobbels, Taylor Gilchrist, Ryan McMahon and Jayden Hoegel each chimed in with two for the winners.
Meanwhile, Rennie Gilchrist was the deserving recipient of the Blue Ribbon Medal, being adjudged best on ground for today’s match.
For the Bulls, Beau Cosson shone up forward with three majors, while Brett Dore and Andrew McConnell each made a fist of it with two each.
Balwyn burst out of the blocks in scintillating fashion kicking all five goals of the first quarter.
Noble Park looked to have settled when they had discovered their run off the half-back line, but they soon found the going tough, with the Tigers limiting their forward 50 supply through the likes of Steve Kenna and Jarryd Chirgwin, who were winning plenty of ball on the wings.
Both Taylor and Rennie Gilchrist virtually had the ball on a string, and it soon proved pivotal when both Hoegel and Allan Murray were allowed to help themselves to further goals for the Tigers and, with that, the margin had blown out to an ominous 30-point lead for the Tigers come quarter time.
The Bulls were rattled; the sanctuary of the quarter-time siren allowed Mick Fogarty’s men to regroup and restructure.
McConnell had other ideas, as his long shot on goal gave the Bulls’ fans something to smile about with Noble Park finally registering their first meaningful score of the game, much to the relief of the Bulls’ faithful.
However, the revival didn’t last long.
A beautiful kick from John Milhuisen released Rennie Gilchrist, and, when the latter’s kick found Barker on the bounce, the big forward evaded the attentions of Noble Park’s Trent Robertson to allow Hoegel stroll in for his second of the day.
Balwyn’s transition of play through the middle of the park was electric, and this time it was Barker himself who was on the end of it proving he’s no mug in front of goal with his second of the day.
The first half seemed to peter out when Jeff Gobbels marked from well outside the arc.
However, with the half-time siren sounding, Gobbels decided to chance his arm and unload a colossal 60-metre torpedo, a la Malcolm Blight, that sailed through the goals, amid wild fanfare.
This was a kick that had to be seen to be believed; the roar of the crowd, and the celebrations of the Balwyn players simply went into overdrive.
If there was a moment when the Grand Final was won, that was certainly it.
Fogarty surely would’ve implored his players to take the game on in the second half and take the game on they did when sure-footed play from the Bulls ended up in the hands of Dore, who finished off the good work with the Bulls’ second of the day.
They created a mini resurgence with Dore grabbing his second and Cosson pegging back the deficit to an even seven goals.
But, you just felt sooner or later, the Tigers would respond, and they did just that when good work from Murray led to Ben Harris adding his name to the host of goal-kickers down at Tigerland.
Harris’ efforts were just the precursor to the Gilchrist show, however.
The star duo, alongside Murray, were dominating on the wings, and, when both brothers had their turn to score from the arc, they did so with aplomb – back-to-back goals for the Gilchrist gang.
Balwyn’s lead had now stretched to an even 10 goals.
By midway through the last term, the sting had been taken out of the game; adding to that, the Noble Park fightback was never really on in truth.
Balwyn was simply too good at Bayswater Oval today, though they could probably be accused of putting the cue in the rack, as Cosson, Stewart Kemperman and Daniel Keeley all added a bit of respectability to the scoreboard to reduce the final margin back to 40 points.
Yet, the Tigers won’t care; they today achieved back-to-back premierships.
Their efforts today, and indeed for the season, were herculean, and that’s how Dan Donati’s men will be remembered in 2013 – simply herculean.
Balwyn 5.3, 8.8, 15.14, 17.14 (116)
Noble Park 0.3, 1.6, 8.9, 11.10 (76)
GOALS, Balwyn: L. Barker 4, J. Gobbels 2, J. Hoegel 2, R. Gilchrist 2, R. McMahon 2, T. Gilchrist 2, B. Harris 1, A. Murray 1, B. Broadhurst 1
Noble Park: B. Cosson 3, A. McConnell 2, B. Dore 2, G. Angelopoulos 1, S. Kemperman 1, T. Mitchem 1, D. Keely 1
BEST, Balwyn: R. Gilchrist, B. Harris, T. Gilchrist, M. O’Regan, S. Tregear, J. Gobbels
Noble Park: V. Faik, C. Anderson, S. Kemperman, B. Dore, S. Monaghan, J. Plymin
