BY JACK KOVACIC.
Coburg will host North Melbourne for the first time ever on Sunday afternoon at Piranha Park.
Still searching for their first win of 2018, the Lions have been building every week and will look to put together a four-quarter performance to hopefully come away with a victory this weekend.
Captain Tom Goodwin will play this week, after missing last week due to a concussion sustained in round two, which also caused him to miss majority of that match.
His return will bring back some leadership to the young group, and also improve the structure around the ground, as it will allow the coaching staff to use Mark Orr and Aidan Tilley with more freedom.
Goodwin will be locked in one of the matchups of the day; an intense ruck duel with North’s Brayden Preuss, who has shown his skill at both VFL and AFL level.
Coburg blew Box Hill away with their first quarter last week, and with Sunday’s forecast looking to be another good day for footy, the Lions will be able to show off their run and skills as they did last Saturday.
After a good showing in his debut last week, which included a goal, Jay O’Donoghue is the only confirmed omission after suffering sternum bruising on the training track this week.
Key defender Harry Nolan takes his place as the 23rd man, in what will be his VFL debut after good form at local level early this season.
Nolan will take his place in defence opposite North Melbourne’s forward line featuring the likes of Nick Larkey, Mason Wood and Paul Ahern, who have all caused damage this season.
After a round one bye, the Kangaroos had a close win over the Northern Blues in round two, before losing by 13 points in a high scoring encounter against Frankston last Saturday.
Sunday’s clash will kick off at 1pm at Piranha Park.
Coburg
B: 5. R. Exon, 10. S. Gregory, 37. J. Murphy
HB: 9. N. Blair, 6. M. Orr, 2. J. Corigliano
C: 1. B. Allan, 7. J. Belo, 17. L. Dickson
HF: 32. B. Cannolo, 16. J. Fox, 3. H. Kerbatieh
F: 26. L. Hunt, 25. A. Tilley, 18. S. Lowson
R: 29. T. Goodwin, 8. N. Mellington, 36. J. Guthrie
Int: 38. D. Aujla, 28. C. Byrne, 15. J. Iacobaccio, 42. M. Lentini, 40. L. Mitchell, 39. J. Page, 45. M. Podhajski, 33. J. Weightman
23P: 43. H. Nolan
In: J. Weightman, H. Nolan, D. Aujla, T. Goodwin, J. Iacobaccio
Out: J. O’Donoghue
North Melbourne
B: 23. B. McKay, 26. D. Nielson, 27. W. Walker
HB: 24. S. Durdin, 21. A. Morgan, 37. K. Hayden
C: 40. T. Murphy, 17. M. Hibberd, 19. S. Wright
HF: 15. P. Ahern, 32. M. Wood, 36. J. Williams
F: 8. N. Hrovat, 20. N. Larkey, 45. O. Junker
R: 38. T. Xerri, 41. G. Narrier, 6. T. Garner
Int: 65. M. Close, 58. J. Harper, 59. N. Holmes, 61. C. Jansen, 53. T. Leonardis, 31. B. Preuss, 52. N. Rippon, 55. M. Rodd
23P: 62. F. Cameron
In: O. Junker, W. Walker, K. Hayden, N. Hrovat, M. Wood
Out: L. Cunningham
