BY KELLY MASTERS
Off the back of the BYE in round six, the team to take on Williamstown this Sunday has been announced, which includes Coburg’s 11th debutant this season.
Many Lions represented their local clubs during the week off VFL duties, while others focused on recovering in time for this week’s clash against the Seagulls.
Fletcher Carroll will make his Coburg debut against his previous club Williamstown, wearing number 24 in the red and blue. Carroll played three games for Williamstown over 2017 and 2018 VFL seasons. After two years with the seagulls, Carroll made his move to Piranha Park where he has earnt a spot in the 43.
Originally from Albury, Carroll played all his junior footy for the Albury Tigers as well as playing for the Murray Bushrangers in the TAC and V line Cup. Having moved to Melbourne to play a higher level of football, Lions fans will now be able to see what the small forward with dynamic pace can bring to the table.
Jack Baker, Floyd Bollinghaus and Hedley Smith are also in line to make their debut for the Lions should they be selected in the final squad to be announced Sunday morning.
Baker, Bollinghaus and Smith join Jack Sandric, Tom Meagher, Jack Murphy and Jackson McDonald in the extended squad to start on the interchange bench after coming in for Jonty Neaves, Josh Guthrie (injured), Kane Noonan (injured) and Harry Simington (injured). Will Donaghey will take the place of 23rd man after impressing on debut against Port Melbourne.
Ben Reddick, Xavier Fry, Liam Whelan, Jonty Neaves, Lucas Cavallaro, Luke Di Lizio, Lachlan Watkins (interleague rep), Jay O’Donoghue will all represent their local clubs this weekend.
In round five the Lions went down to Port Melbourne by 6 points in a nail-biting finish, after holding a 36-point lead at half-time. The Lions were strong throughout the game, although will focus on maintaining the intensity and pressure right up until the final siren this week.
Against Port Melbourne, the ‘Lion of the Week’ went to Josh Weightman. As a Small Forward and Midfielder, it is Weightmans second full season on the list at Coburg. There is no doubt he will prove a threat to the Seagulls with his confidence and game sense at VFL level.
Looking to capitalise in the forward line will be Steve Stroobants. Stroobants kicked four goals in the match against Port Melbourne for the Lions, and while representing Rochester last weekend, he kicked eight to earn best of ground in the defeat of Shepparton United by 113 points.
Williamstown will be coming into the match after the BYE in round six as well. The Seagulls have had three wins so far this season over Port Melbourne (10 points), Frankston (72 points), and Footscray (16 points).
So far this season Williamstown’s Nick Meese, Mitch Hibberd, and Willie Wheeler have been driving forces for the Seagulls and will be crucial for Coburg to tie down early.
Former Lions Wheeler, Leigh Masters, Nick Mellington and Liam Hunt have all been named in the Williamstown squad to take on the Burgers, which should be a fiery clash especially given Mellington and Hunt lined up with so many of the current Lions squad last year.
We encourage all Coburg Football Club members to get to the game and support our boys on Sunday, from 12:30 pm at Piranha Park.
#WeAreCoburg