Match Preview: Coburg vs Williamstown

Ali Taleb

Where and when:

Piranha Park, Sunday 19thMay, 12:30pm start.

 

Last time they met:

Round 5, 2018: Coburg 7.11 53 defeated by Williamstown 12.14 86

A Fast starting Williamstown side booted 5 goals to 0 in the first quarter of last season’s clash. 2018 AFL draftee Ben Cavarra kicked a bag of 5 that day and led his side to a 33 point win.   Coburg best players on the day were Corigliano, Dickson and Mellington…who happens to now play for Williamstown.

 

Form in 2019

Coburg-       

A 3 point loss in round one, taking it up to the reigning premiers in round 4 and a 1 goal margin loss to premiership contenders Port Melbourne in round 5. Coburg’s 1 win 4 loss record only tells part of the story that has made up their season.

With a young side coming into 2019, led by Peter McEvoy and Ryan Exon, Coburg had high expectations, and nothing has changed.

This week they will look to take it up to a strong Williamstown side in front of their home faithful. With a small 5 goal margin last time they met Coburg should be confident in its chances this week at Piranha Park.

An exciting forward line led by Sam Lowson this season, with a rebounding defensive unit, Coburg look dangerous. Williamstown will need to be up for a battle come Sunday afternoon.

Could this be the last game at Piranha Park as a Lion for a couple of Coburg players who are in the frame for the AFL mid-season draft on May 27th?

Williamstown-

1 point away from a grand final spot in 2018, Williamstown come in to 2019 with high expectations and look a chance against any side in the competition.

Knocking off Port Melbourne in round 1, while looking the better side in moments against current ladder leaders Richmond in round 5, although going down by 51 points. Williamstown look set again to have a strong say come the pointy end of the season and into finals.

Lead by Nicholas Rodda, already having 12 goals for the season, Williamstown will fancy their chances this week against the Coburg outfit.

 

Players to watch

Coburg –

#14 Steven Stroobants

4 goals in a high intensity clash against Port Melbourne last time out. Stroobants will look to be at his goal kicking best this week and continue the form that has made him a dangerous small forward this season.

#27 Sam Binion

Another Coburg forward, Binion will look to back up his 2 goal and high defensive forward pressure that he showed in round 5. A valuable contributor, don’t be surprised if in round 7 Sam Binion has his own break out game.

Williamstown-

#9 Adam Marcon

With a strong performance in the midfield last week that included 20+ disposals and a goal, Adam will look to get Williamstown back on the winners list this weekend.

      #7 Mitchell Hibberd

28 disposals across the half back flank against ladder leaders Richmond last week. Hibberd will again look to be effective with ball in hand and start attack from defensive against Coburg this week.

Selected Teams

Coburg-

B:   #5 Exon                  #6 Nolan                #7 Lever

HB: #2 Corigliano         #25 Tilley                #38 Old

C:  #9 Foster                #11 Bunker              #42 Lentini

HF: #27 Binion             #12 McEvoy            #32 Cannolo

F:   #4 Lowson             #10 Podhajski        #14 Stroobants

R:   #22 Swierzbiolek   #17 Dickson          #3 Weightman

23rd man: #31 Donaghey

Interchange: #24 Carroll, #45 Sandric, #1 Murphy, #23 McDonald, #43 Bollinghaus, #21 Meagher, #37 Smith, #16 J Baker.

 

                                                                  Williamstown-

B: #10 Masters              #21 Tippett                #41 Minogue

HB: #17 Charleston          #5 Monk                   #18 Greiser

C:   #25 Hunt                     #9 Marcon                #20 Norton

HF:   #22 Pickess                 #26 Thorpe             #8 Mellington

FF: #37 Ebinger                   #3 Dunell                 #2 Kennedy

R: #49 Meese                       #7 Hibberd             #25 Wheeler

23rdman: #46 Ayton-Delaney

Interchange: #36 Henderson, #27 Morrish, #4 Myers, #34 Ottavi, #1 Pongracic, #32 Sing, #31 Stephens, #15 Tate.

On our home turf this week where we saw a massive crowd help cheer the boys on in our round 5 clash against Port Melbourne, we again encourage the Coburg faithful to provide support and watch our boys run out and battle Williamstown at Piranha Park.

Venue: Piranha Park, 12:30pm start time, gates open at 11am.

#WeAreCoburg

Written by Ali Taleb, in his first year of his Bachelor of Business (Sports Management/Communications) degree at Latrobe University. The Coburg Football club is in a position to offer opportunities as the one Ali has taken. They are committed to educating our next generation of football leaders