Lions falter at home to Pies

Best: Blair, Gleeson, Uysal, McConnell, Venditti, Orr
Goals: MacDonald 2, Cauchi 2, Younan 2, Gleeson, Hill, Mance, Goodwin
Collingwood’s Michael Still dominated up forward with four goals as the Magpies won at Piranha Park in their first trip to Coburg in four years.
The Lions battled hard in the first half as a gale blew all day long to the southern side of the ground. Favouring the Pies in the third term, Collingwood kicked 7 goals to 3 in the third term to extend the margin to 45 points at the final change, before Coburg would keep at the score bay to hold the margin to 38 points at the final siren.
Collingwood got off to the perfect start when Tim Broomhead pushed forward to get Collingwood their first of the day. Broomhead made inroads and dominated stoppages to win best on ground honours for Collingwood finishing with 3 goals.
The Lions fought hard in the first term but were unable to hold out the Pies as they would’ve liked to due to the strong breeze. Four goals. A shining light was Dean MacDonald down forward who kicked his first senior goal since in Coburg colours since he was listed with Richmond to get the Lions’ first of the day.
In the second term, the Lions were keeping the Magpies within striking distance cutting the margin to nine points through relentless forward 50 pressure, creating havoc for the Collingwood defence. Unfortunately when the Pies did break clear, their speed was too much to handle and would punish the Lions inside 50 at every opportunity.
After consistently being the Lions’ best quarter, Coburg failed to deliver in the third term as the margin was brought out to a game high 51 points nearing the end of the quarter. A shining light down forward, Tom Gleeson was getting involved in the action taking strong marks and working hard up the ground in his first VFL outing.
The Lions closed the contest in the last running out the game strongly, cutting into the Magpies’ margin having 12 scoring shots to 5 in the last, but inaccurate kicking resulted in a margin less of a less pleasurable standard to what coach Peter German was after.

Tom Gleeson was instrumental down forward in his first Senior VFL match. Gleeson had 18 possessions to go with 2.3 goals, and was lively taking 8 marks (1 contested).
Ozzie Uysal was at his usual best, racking it up with 38 disposals, 13 inside 50s and 12 clearances for his best game of the season.
Mark Orr also enjoyed a return to form, with 14 disposals, 17 hitouts, and a game high 3 contested marks.
The Lions now look to the Queen’s Birthday clash where they will play the Northern Blues at Piranha Park.