Sport
Tigers v Eagles
Chris Vernuccio
21Jul08
Vermont hammered Balwyn last time the teams met. But, the Tigers have improved markedly since Round 3.
BALWYN is in the best shape, and position, to conquer the last frontier of its brief Eastern Football League history Vermont.
The Tigers are yet to topple the Eagles in three attempts, and Vermont remains the only team they have not had success against.
But, the intriguing element of this Saturday's clash at Balwyn Park is which team will fill the role of the hunter and which the hunted.
Balwyn leapfrogged Vermont into top spot on the ladder after it slaughtered Blackburn by 72 points and the Eagles lost, by seven points, to Noble Park.
The Tigers faithful were overjoyed when word of Vermont's defeat spread across Balwyn Park.
But, both coach Daniel Harford and president Richard Wilson believe Balwyn will not earn Vermont's respect until the Tigers prove themselves against the reigning premiers.
Harford said the Tigers faced an enormous challenge but believes the key to victory is to subdue Vermont with relentless pressure.
"You've got to beat the best teams in the comp," Harford said.
"Positions on the ladder really don't mean that much at the moment, we've got to beat Vermont.
"They're the only team we haven't beaten. We've got to stop their key players and stop their run.
"They've got a lot of great players and it's a challenge for our 21 to beat them."
Wilson said the Tigers' credibility had taken a battering after they were "embarrassed as a football club" by a 133-point defeat at the hands of the Eagles in Round 3.
The Tigers were without Harford, Allan Murray and Roc Harry.
A five-goal loss to Noble Park followed, but, since then, the Tigers have won nine in a row, including a come-from-behind win over the Bulls, two weeks ago.
Wilson said this week's match against Vermont deserved a crowd of 10,000.
"It's all about trying to finish on top," Wilson said.
"The side's playing good football. We're getting more players back every week and the team's gelling. To be sitting on top is a great fillip for the footy club."
