Development Lions thrash Blues and look towards finals

1/4 TIME1/2 TIME3/4 TIMEFULL TIME
Northern Blues1.2.81.3.93.3.215.3.33
Coburg4.5.2910.6.6614.8.9220.11.131

Best: Boyd, Robinson, Schraven, Iacobaccio, Totino, Posar
Goals: Tang 4, Symes 3, Hemala 2, Iacobaccio 2, Schraven 2, Madden 2, Totino, Sortino, Latham, Bailey, Posar
Coburg completely dominated the Northern Blues, scoring 20 goals in a 98-point win at IKON Park on Sunday afternoon.
Swingman Michael Tang booted four goals and Ricky Schraven had 27 possessions as the Lions lead from start to finish in a 5.3 (33) to 20.11 (131) victory.
Jai Robinson (25 touches) found a lot of the ball in the back half while Josh Totino (23) bossed the contested ball in midfield.
Schraven, Damon Symes, Josh Iacobaccio, Julian Hemala all kicked two majors each as Coburg’s attention now turns to a elimination final clash against Casey Scorpions next weekend.
Brandon Bailey was everywhere early but it was the Blues who started better and dominated possession in the opening minutes. A wasteful attempt by Josh Cauchi was quickly rectified by Ricky Schraven after the diminutive midfielder received a kind bounce on the goal line to get the Burgers’ first.
James Latham momentarily turned into Leo Messi as he soccered home the Lions’ second from distance before Michael Tang booted two majors.

NORTHERN BLUESSTATSCOBURG
301Disposals356
125Contested Possessions150
83Marks100
38Inside 50s56
44Clearances35
18Turnovers17


Cauchi improved his ball use and decision-making to set up teammates but still had lapses in concentration and skill execution as the game went on.
Keenan Posar – lining up against his old side – was a composed figure with ball in hand and finished with 20 disposals and a goal. He always looked to take the game on and break lines.
Bailey also started the second term well, getting the Burgers off to the perfect start with a classy finish on the angle. A dangerous Tang slotted his third as Coburg built a commanding lead while also defending resolutely to keep the Blues goalless.
Symes added his second early in the third quarter and Josh Iacobaccio dragged down a huge pack mark in the goal square to get himself on the scoreboard as the Lions dominated play and locked the ball inside 50.
A slight fade out saw the Blues respond with two late goals to put a dampener on what was heading towards a big Coburg victory.
The Burgers monstered the home side in the last term, with the game played almost entirely in the Blues’ defensive 50. Madden flew high to take a hanger in one of the highlights of a big Coburg win.