Strong Second Half From Development Lions Not Enough To Beat Boroughs

An impressive third term from Coburg’s Development side wasn’t enough to beat Port Melbourne, losing by 15 points in their practice match at North Port Oval earlier today.
An early lead in the first half gave Port Melbourne the advantage, and while the Lions came out fighting with six goals to Port’s two in the third quarter, they couldn’t hold on to secure the win.
Trailing by just four points at the final change and equalling the scores twice, Coburg struggled to convert their hard work onto the scoreboard.
Only managing three scoring shots to Port’s nine, the Lions fell short at the end with James Svarc kicking the only goal for them in the last term.
Zak Wunhym was one of the strongest with two goals and 18 disposals, followed closely by Alex Mioni and Svarc who also finished with two goals each.
Sam Lowson (17 disposals), Jesse Corigliano (16 disposals) and Liam Kidd (15 disposals) were also instrumental to the Lions side, along with Calder Cannons graduates Karl Brown, Billy Cannolo, Cameron McRorie, and Jackson McDonald who all managed to kick one goal each in the third.
Damandeep Aujla was a late inclusion replacing Jack Reaper, but made his impact known and finished up with 13 disposals and four inside-50s.
Unfortunately, the Lions’ combined efforts were not enough to overcome the Boroughs, who responded to nearly every Coburg goal with one of their own.
“In the last quarter there was probably a couple of things we did that we didn’t want to do, especially with our ball movement, that led to turnovers,” Head Development Coach Paul ‘PK’ Kennedy said after the game.
“Credit to Port, they had a really good team in and that’s what I wanted from a practice game; quality opposition, some really good and obvious signs that when we dropped away from what we wanted to do, a good team would make us pay.” Kennedy continued.
Coming off the back of their 15-point victory last weekend, Coburg’s development team now look towards their final practice match, where they will take on Box Hill at Piranha Park next Saturday morning.
 
Port Melbourne: 3.1 8.4 10.6 13.12 (90)
Coburg: 2.1 3.5 9.8 11.9 (75)
Goals: Mioni 2, Wunhym 2, Svarc 2, Brown, McKay, Cannolo, McDonald, McRorie.
Best: Wunhym, Svarc, Lowson, Corigliano, Mioni.