By Brooke Varney.
The Coburg Football Club officially launched their 2018 VFL season at the inaugural Family Day on Sunday afternoon, opening up the doors of the Coburg-Moreland Bowls Club to members, family, friends, and sponsors.
There was a lot on offer for guests of all ages, including face painting for the little ones, kick-to-kick with AFL Victoria representatives for the older kids, and lawn bowls and live music from the ‘Dollar 20 Blues Band’ for the adults.
General Manager Sebastian Spagnuolo was really proud of the day, and hopes it will become a great tradition in the Coburg calendar:
“(Today was) absolutely fantastic, and the most important thing was (not just) how many people were here, but how many new people were here, people that we’ve never seen before or never met.”
“That’s what we are all about in 2018 and moving forward, it’s about introducing our club to new people in the community and I think we’ve done that today.”
“It’s the first time we’ve done this too, so there is lots to learn but we’ll make it an annual tradition, and one that we’re really proud of.”
The 2018 playing list were presented with their guernseys, and the leadership group was announced; Tom Goodwin as Captain for the second consecutive year, supported by Peter McEvoy, Nathan Blair and Nick Mellington to make-up the four-man group.
Speeches from Coburg FC President Kevin Breen, Peter Khalil MP, Ryman Healthcare Group Sales and Community Relations Manager Debbie McClure, Head Coach Leigh Adams, and GM Sebastian Spagnuolo were also heard on the day.
To end the event, key defender Josh Iacobaccio took part in the World’s Greatest Shave, with Tom Meer from MotoInk Motorcycles helping get rid of the hair he had been growing for over three years.
With pressure to cut it also coming from his father George, Iacobaccio, who heads into his fourth year as a Lion, admitted he was quite relieved it was finally happening, and saw it as an opportunity to raise some money for a good cause.
“I’m getting over it (the hair) a bit now; I hate it when it’s windy like today and blowing all over the place,” he said.
He ended up raising over $4000, and also thought holding it at the Bowls Club, rather than at a reception centre like they have done in the past, went really well.
“It’s a more laidback vibe and I’m very happy with it; I’d much rather do this than put on a suit and tie and have to sit through formalities,” he said through laughs.
“You also get to be amongst the community and around people you don’t usually speak to, so in that sense it really brings everyone together.”
Going into his fourth year at the club, Iacobaccio looks forward to the year in general and feels it is going to be a great year for the club.
Also handing over his reign as host of Coburg TV to Jack Sandric and Alex Mioni, he is excited to see what they are going to do with it.
“I think (Coburg TV) will be good and a freshen-up, I’ve probably run it dry the past couple of years so they much deserve the role,” he laughed.
Ryan Exon, Billy Cannolo, and new recruit Damon Cramer also challenged each other to a donut-eating competition thanks to latest sponsor Krispy Kreme, with the results to be revealed in the next episode of Coburg TV.
Joint-major sponsor Ryman Healthcare were also in attendance, handing out free water bottles and snapping pictures.
More photos from the day will be available on the Coburg FC Facebook page soon.
We Are Coburg. Are You? Get excited for the 2018 Peter Jackson VFL Season and sign up as a Coburg member NOW! For more information or to purchase your membership, head to the Coburg FC Online Store or call (03) 9354 8228.
