The Development Lions have gone down to a strong Box Hill Hawks outfit by 26 points in round 3 of the AFL Vic Development league.
The Hawks lead from siren to siren, with better use of the football and cleaner passages of play being the difference.
The Lions we lead diligently by Josh Iacobaccio who showed composure under pressure while Cam McRorie and Cullum Urquhart showed spirit in the forward fifty.
The game started at a reasonable pace with neither side able to draw a blow from multiple inside 50 entries.
The visitors kicked the first of the game, sparking the lions into gear, mounting midfield and forward line pressure resulting in an Adam Valeri goal.
Captain for the day Josh Iacobaccio again capitalised on the pressure increase, finding Dylan McDonald on a short lead, who converted from 30 out.
The consecutive Lions goals only fired the Hawks into gear, responding with 3 in a row. It took a brilliant handball chain from a half back stoppage, to stem the flow, Dylan McDonald delivering to Jake Kalanj.
However, poor Coburg checking saw the quarter time margin blow out to 15 points.
Box Hill ramped up the pressure to start the second, kicking 3 unanswered goals. Better build-up play and a great slips catch from Callum Urquhart got Coburg back on the board.
Rhys Free continued his goal kicking form, however, it wasn’t enough to keep the Lions in check. Box Hill going into the half leading by 37 points.
The third term started in similar fashion to the first with end to end play and neither side able to land a blow early.
Callum Urquhart managed his second for the game as Box Hill clamped down and locked the ball in their forward half for the majority of the quarter. Coburg defensive pressure ensuring they would only convert once.
A late Cam McRorie goal brought back the three quarter time margin to 5 goals.
Dion Hill hit the scoreboard early in the last before the hawks kicked the next two. Late consolation goals to McRorie and Josh Iacobaccio weren’t enough to get the Lions back into the game.
The final scores, Coburg Lions: 10.11.71 Box Hill Hawks: 15.13.97
The development side heads to Preston City Oval to take on the Norther Blues next Saturday.
Best: J.Clarke, T.McConville, C.Urquhart, J. Iacobaccio, C.McRorie, M.King
Goals: C.McRorie, 3 C.Urquart 2, D.McDonald, J.Kalanj, R.Free, D.Hill, A.Valeri, J.Iacobaccio
