DAVE WATSON'S REPORT
A nine game winning stretch came to a massive halt as Vermont was thrashed to the tune of 82 points by league leader Balwyn at SEN Park on Saturday. The Tigers mauled the hapless Eagles in every fact of the contest for the entire match and for large periods of time toyed with the opposition. The win also stretched Balwyn’s unbeaten record to nine wins in a row ove r the Eagles. Back in round two when these two sides last met at Terrara Road Jeff Gobbels proved to be one component that haunted the Eagles on that particular day with a six goal haul in the eventual 17 point victory.
The Gobbels factor again played a significant part as the competitions stand out centre half forward was unstoppable beating numerous opponents with a quality seven goal haul.
Skipper Ryan Mullett, Tom Schneider and Simon Taylor tried valiantly all afternoon but the swarming tide was all to frequent. The Eagles sole goal in the opening term coming five minutes in from Lachie Johns who converted a free kick from thirty metres to cancel out Tiger Luke Barkers opener for the match. Further goals from Gobbels (2) Shane Tregear and Jayden Hoegel had the Tigers out to a 23 point lead at the quarter time break.
Gobbels grabbed this third five minutes into the second quarter and when Ryan McMahon then snapped truly the lead was extended to 37 points midway through the term.
Vermont sprung some life into the contest with two quick goals in the space of three minutes cutting the deficit to under five goals. Mullett made no mistake with a set shot from 35 metres out and Justin Van Unen converted a rare opportunity after a strong pack mark to slot a goal from a tight angle.
While the Eagles mathematically were in the contest at the main break those sums were completely obliterated by three quarter time as the Tigers stretched the lead to 55 points with four unanswered goals for the quarter coming from the boot of Gobbels, Barker, McMahon and Hoegel.
In some ways the 55 points was flattering given the Tigers amassed 4.8 for the term to the Eagles four points.
When Allan Murray seized upon a defensive mishap in the opening minute of the final quarter to blow the margin out to over ten goals it was now a simple case of can the Eagles stop the flood gates from bursting open. Kyle Emley finally broke a 50 minute goal drought finishing off a chain of lead up handballs with six minutes on the clock. But that goal did nothing to inspire as the Tigers kicked four unanswered goals in the next ten minutes through Gobbels (2) Broadhurst and Murray as the lead stretched to 81 points.
Daniel Mendes provided a rare highlight at the 20 minute mark with a snap deep in the pocket at the Cherry Road end of the ground that somehow managed to sail through the eye of a needle. Broadhurst grabbed his second of the term on 23 minutes and when Gobbels drilled home his seventh two minutes later the margin had blown out to 87 points. Small forward Adrian Gileno who l ike the majority of his team mates throughout the afternoon struggled to make any impression kicked the Eagles sixth for the afternoon with a set shot from 30 metres out.
Final Score:
Vermont 1-4-(10) 3-5-(23) 3-9-(27) 6-10-(46)
Balwyn 5-3-(33) 7-8-(50) 11-16-(82) 18-20-(128)
Vermont Goals: L.Johns, R.Mullett, J.Van Unen, K.Emley, D.Mendes, A.Gileno all 1 each.
Vermont Best: (Watson’s choice) T.Schneider, R.Mullett, S.Taylor.
Next Saturday the Eagles entertain Noble Park at Terrara Road.
Last Modified on 08/07/2013 22:28