By Daniel Atamian
The Coburg Lions rounded out their final practice match in a home game at Jackson Reserve, Coburg as they took on the Warragul Industrials Football Netball Club as they now look towards the 2022 season opener of the SEWFL competition.
The first game for the double header saw the senior team pounce on the attack from the opening bounce showing unrelenting pressure and attack as the Burgers hunted for the ball to make an impact in a big way on the scoreboard.
The Lions did not disappoint as the ball would rarely leave their attacking half of the ground and should it cross over into the defensive half the back six found a way to repel any attack and send the ball back forward for what would be an onslaught of goals.
There was plenty of highlights coming out of the senior team’s game with Burger fans sure to keep an eye out for Ruby Taranto whose star continues to rise after slotting three of her four total goals in the fourth quarter. Other newcomers who also impressed included Isabella Hayes made a mark on the scoreboard for the first time in her Lions colours slotting through three goals, whilst Morgan McNally made a nice connection with Angel Georgallis to get a quick goal from a center bounce in less than a minute to extend the Lions lead to unprecedented heights to rally home with a thumping win, in what would mark the end of Inaugural Team member; Simone Craige’s, career after playing 200+ games across multiple levels of football.
Coach Liam Cavanagh said of the game that “it got better as it went on” and that some changes were made to the game plan to help the team score which did in fact work. Coach Cavanagh also mentioned he was moist impressed with the ability of the team to adapt to the game plan changes.
New recruit Amy Duguid was best on ground in Cavanagh’s eyes stating that during the game she was “Awesome… she was getting real value from her possessions”.
Coach Cav also praised Taranto for providing a contest all day in with her overhead marking and being able to bring the ball to ground for the small forwards to go on the attack.
The development team picked up where the senior side left off by putting in a massive effort kicking the opening goal moments after the opening bounce. The team would see another new comer in Mikayla Kotas step up kicking a club high in goal for both senior and development teams with five goals which would see the development side trounce the opposing Warragul Industrials side.
Coach Justin Beach commented after the game saying, “the whole game was played well with the team being aggressive to the contest early”.
Coach Beach mentioned that the midfield had structured themselves very well and as did the back who provided plenty of overlap run which “was good to see”.
Mikayla Kotas was a stand out in Beach’s eyes.
“She played really well providing space for other forwards and making some great leads at the footy,” Beach said.
He also gave a mention of Chloe Prpic who did well to adjust to the length the ground by determining the kicking direction of the footy
Scores:
Seniors-
COBURG- 19.8.122
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS- 0.0.0
Goals: (4) R.Taranto, (3) I.Hayes, (2) A.Georgallis, S.Damon, (1) T.Chetcuti, A.Duguid, M.Edwards, K.Koropeckyj, A.Morrow, M.Muscat T.Phipps & R.Said
Development-
COBURG- 13.8.86
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS- 0.0.0
Goals: (5) M.Kotas, (2) L.Cavanagh, (1) M.D’Agostino, T.Hendy, E.Menzies, A.Mitchener J.Nankiville & C.Prpic
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