By Mathew Asciak
Looking to keep their unbeaten run in the 2022 season alive, the Coburg senior Women’s team travelled to Alexandra Park to face the Mornington Bulldogs for their round 12 clash. In one of the matches of the season, Coburg, who trailed at every change, ran out 7-point victors.
The opening exchanges were tightly contested, with Mornington eventually breaking the deadlock and creating a pair of deep inside 50m entries, resulting in the opening two majors. Sophie Damon and Ruby Taranto were prominent figures in the Coburg forward line, though they were unable to worry the scoresheet in the opening term.
Coburg’s lone goal of the quarter came through an unlikely source, Mia Muscat, who showed a clean pair of hands in the middle of the park to trap a loose ball, burst inside 50 and kicks a superb goal over the contest in the goal square. The Lions trailed by 10 points at the first change.
Momentum stayed in favour of the Lions to start the 2nd term, with Amy Duguid getting on the scoresheet, after some great crumbing work by Teagan Brett of the contest, who found Duguid in the space out the back of the contest, turned and snapped through a close-range snap.
Neither side was able to trouble the scorers thereafter, with the not much to separate the two teams at the half, the home side took a slender 4-point lead.
The third term began like the first, with the home side in control of the play, creating a game high 17-point lead. Coburg responded promptly however, through an easy goal through Sophie Damon after taking an uncontested mark in the goal square, courtesy of Brittney Gray, for an easy goal. The lead was cut down to the half time deficit of 4 points at the final change, setting up a nail -biting final quarter.
The Lions dominated forward territory in the final term and subsequently opened a 10- point lead through goals from Ruby Taranto and Claire Cashman. The Bulldogs fought back after repelling repeat Coburg attacks, reducing the lead to 4 points. An all-important intercept mark from Lauren Suleiman preventing a Bulldogs counterattack in the final minutes, securing the win.
Goalkickers: Brett 3, Damon, Taranto, Cashman, Duguid, Muscat
Final score:
Mornington: 3.1.(19) | 4.2.(26) | 6.5.(41) | 7.5.(47)
Coburg: 1.3.(9) | 3.4.(22) | 5.7.(37) | 7.12.(54)
