A CRISIS meeting two years ago that helped save the Balranald Football Netball Club has also delivered the club their latest Jack Betts medallist, with joint coach Jydon Neagle claiming the award on Sunday night.
On learning of its perilous state, Neagle returned to the club where his father Merv led a premiership in 2006 after it was forced to consider its future at a town meeting a couple of seasons ago.
Neagle watched the meeting online in disbelief that this once proud club could possibly have found itself in the situation. He vowed to do his part to change its fortunes.
“I can remember as a kid riding around Balranald on our bikes and the town was just buzzing when they won the flag,” Neagle said.
“It really is the best football club when it’s up and going and that’s win, lose or draw.
“What I can remember from when I was a kid was that there was just so many people that got around the club and there were always so many volunteers that to then see it in the situation where they were discussing their future actually got to me a bit.
“I was watching the meeting online and they were talking about shutting up shop and I knew that this was no good from a club that was absolutely buzzing in the day. From there, I just thought it was time for me to give back and here I am doing exactly that.”
Neagle won his first Jack Betts Medal in thrilling fashion. A best-on-ground performance in Balranald’s upset 34-point victory over Tyntynder in the final home-and-away game of the season gave him a three-vote victory over Kerang’s Bradlee Pay, who led the vote count for much of the second half of the season.
Pay and Neagle both entered the final round tied on 22 votes. But the Kerang midfielder missed the final game of the season with a torn Achilles tendon and Neagle’s performance in the final match gave him a well-deserved win.
“This is definitely something that I wasn’t expecting,” Neagle said after the count.
“When you have players of the quality of Bradlee Pay, Joel Helman and Tom Toma running around, it certainly makes winning tonight even more special.”
Woorinen onballer Jye Barry and Kerang inside midfielder Martin Kelly both tied for third on 20 votes, while Lake Boga ruckman Jacob Simpson and 2018 Jack Betts medallist Joel Helman were two votes further back on 18 votes.
Neagle is Balranald’s first senior league best-and-fairest since 2009, when Eric Kuret tied with Tooleybuc-Manangatang’s Ryan O’Sullivan.
Neagle’s sublime skills and propensity to never waste a disposal made him one of the must-watch players in the Central Murray League this season. He dominated across half-back and through the midfield.
“I think that (his high disposal efficiency) comes from my background in the VFL and SANFL,” Neagle said. “When you get your opportunities, you have to take them otherwise, you’re going to get burnt going back the other way.
“Being a coach and a leader around the footy club, you need to lead by example and if you can’t do it yourself, then it’s hard to expect anyone else to do it either.”
Neagle thanked not only the club, but also his partner Alex and two children Maeve and Oliver for their support. He has already signed on as coach at Balranald for next season.
As successful as 2022 was – with the Roos finishing just two points outside the top five – Balranald already have their sights set on taking their game to new heights when the new season rolls around.
“We were absolutely shattered when we beat Tyntynder in the last round – we were hoping Tooleybuc-Manangatang would roll Lake Boga and then we would have scraped into the finals,” Neagle said.
“That’s definitely the burning desire going forward and I think if we can keep this group together and add a couple more to top up the list then I think success will most likely be just around the corner.”
