Bulldogs too good in Coburg’s final 2019 game

Coburg has been defeated by 35 points in today’s clash with Footscray on a blustery day at Whitten Oval.
 
Kicking with the strong breeze in the first quarter, Coburg put its foot on the Bulldogs throat from the opening bounce kicking the first seven goals of the game.
 
Steven Stroobants kicked the first goal of the day in his last game at the club.
 
The link-up play was one of the highlights of the first quarter with goals to Jack Murphy and Mitch Podhajski coming through great transition from defence to attack.
 
Using the wind to his advantage, Jesse Corigliano kicked a massive goal from inside the centre square which was the defenders fifth goal of the season.
 
Coburg’s defence held up well for majority of the first term apart from a slip up where the Bulldogs got out the back and kicked a late goal.
 
Holding a 37-point lead going into the second quarter, the defenders were always going to be under the pump with Footscray now kicking with the strong breeze.
 
As they did in the first quarter, led by Harry Nolan and Tyson Lever, the defence was great early allowing just one goal in the first 11 minutes.
 
Footscray continued to push hard and amazingly, had 22 inside 50’s to none for the second quarter and were able to take a one-point lead into half time.
 
Unlike the first quarter, Coburg failed to use the breeze effectively and found themselves conceding the first two goals of the third term.
 
Footscray defended strongly and didn’t allow Coburg to transition from defence to attack anywhere near as easily as it had earlier in the game.
 
Goals to Stroobants and McEvoy ensured the momentum would swing back Coburg’s way and the Lions began to set up better and get the game back on their own terms.
 
Despite this, the Bulldogs still held a five-point lead going into the last term and were also kicking with the breeze at their backs.
 
These factors were always going to make it a tough final term for Coburg and unfortunately, it wasn’t able to finish its season with a win.
 
The only Coburg goal of the final term came from the boot of Peter McEvoy who dribbled through his second of the game, while down the other end, Footscray kicked five of their own.
 
Adam Swierzbiolek was one of Coburg’s best all day with the ruckman battling hard throughout the four quarters.
 
He finished with 43 hitouts in what was a dominant display and allowed the Lions midfielders first possession of the footy all afternoon.
 
As usual, Marcus Lentini racked up plenty of the footy finishing with 32 disposals, 15 of which were contested to go along with his 10 clearances.
 
Speaking post game, coach Leigh Adams was impressed with the team’s first quarter.
 
“We won the contest around the football well,” he said, “We were able to get the ball forward and make it really difficult for them to get it out (of our forward half) which was good.”
 
On the flipside, Adams said that parts of the team struggled in the second quarter.
 
“We held up really well for most of the quarter, but we were slightly down in clearances and contested footy and struggled to get it into our territory.”
 
“We probably didn’t get enough out of our forwards, they didn’t create enough and give us enough opportunities,” Adams said, “To only be down five points at half time is probably something we would’ve taken before the game started.”
 
Coburg’s season has now come to an end on the field but stay tuned for all the coverage of the Jim Sullivan Medal on Friday the 6thof September!
 
Coburg 10.6.66
Footscray 13.23.101
Goals: Stroobants, McEvoy 2, Murphy, Binion, Corigliano, Cannolo, Podhajski, Lowson
Best: Lever, Nolan, Stroobants, Lentini, Exon, Corigliano