Balderson loving Olympic life

SHOCKWAVES went around the peninsula when Scott Balderson defected to Sydney Olympic FC in the off-season.

After all, the 25-year was part of the furniture at Manly United FC.

The prospect of him entering the away sheds at Cromer Park few felt would ever eventuate. 

Wrong.

With park football beckoning, Olympic coach Grant Lee, himself a northern beaches resident, quickly tracked down Balderson’s digits.

He was soon calling Belmore home for 2015 alongside ex United defender Leigh Egger, midfield utility Jack Green and his brother, Australian Schoolboy representative Ollie Green.

"I was stale, I definitely needed a change,” Balderson told Football NSW.

"I have nothing but good things to say about my time with Manly, but it was time to move on.

"It was weird playing them in the Preseason Cup, but I am loving life at Olympic.

"Grant (Lee) has worked us hard, we are training four times a week."

Balderson noticed the differences between the two clubs soon after jumping ship.

He is now expected to win every game and he won’t walk into the starting XI each week.

"Sydney Olympic has such a proud history, I am well aware of what they achieved in the NSL,” he said.

"Their supporters are fanatical, a semi-final finish goes without saying in their eyes."

Balderson expects Sydney United 58 and Bonnyrigg to be Olympic’s chief threats for silverware.

"In this league you need depth in every position in order to be successful,” he said.

"Those two clubs have it in spades and so do we.

"Personally I haven’t been this fit in a long time, and the commute out west is nowhere near as bad as I was thinking initially.

"Our aim is to start well – if we do that, we can set up our year."