By Nathan Spicer
When & Where
Piranha Park Saturday 30th April 1.05PM
Last Time We Met
R4 2021 @ Victoria Park
Collingwood 14.11.95
Coburg 13.13.91
A game defined by the wind. The Pies won the toss and kicked with it in the first notching up a 22-0 Quarter Time lead. Coburg bounced back in the second dominating and taking a seven-point buffer heading into the main break. Once again kicking with the wind in the third the Pies piled on eight goals to one getting them a 38-point lead at the final change. The Lions produced a stunning comeback in the last but eventually fell just short by four points.
Form
A great win in Round 1 is now a distant memory for the Lions. Respectable showings against powerhouses GWS and Melbourne were followed last week by a disappointing loss to Box Hill. Leading at every break including by nine points at 3QT the Hawks overrun the Lions to win by four goals. With the Hawks 2.16.28 at 3QT, they finally put some of their dominance on the scoreboard in the last. The Lions have by no means been easy beats and have been in all games played bar the GWS match. It doesn’t get any easier this week coming up against an in-form Collingwood side sitting fifth on the ladder with a 4-1 record after dispatching lowly Essendon on Anzac Day to the tune of 58 points.
Preview
It is a massive day down at Piranha Park against one of the big clubs of the competition. The Magpies make the trip up to Coburg looking to continue their good form against a young Coburg side bubbling with enthusiasm and effort but lacking the reward they’ve deserved so far this season.
The Pies are coming off a five-day break and with wet weather predicted that could suit the Lions perfectly with the tough defensive brand of footy Sturg likes the boys to play and with young legs also the Lions will always be in the game with the possibility of running over the top of the Pies in the last quarter on the cards.
There will be two changes to the Lions line-up Lachlan Walker and Tom McKenzie come back into the side after missing out last week. Co-Captain Ryan Exon will be one of the two missing along with last week’s debutant Joshua Kemp.
The game will be streamed live and free on the AFL app and website.
