By Daniel Atamian
In what would have been a match circled in the Lions calendars since they went down to the hands of the Warragul Industrials earlier in the season in an away game that saw the Burgers undefeated streak end after round 6 by a dominant Industrials side.
The opening bounce of the game did no go as Coburg would have hoped as the visitors would be pressuring hard around the contest anywhere the ball would go, ultimately drawing first blood as the Industrials were able to score the opening goal of the game with a dribble kick at goal. Though the Lions would try to move the ball quickly into their forward half to no avail as Warragul with it intense pack hunting in their forward line would repel any forward momentum the Lions would have leading to their second goal in the opening term after a mad scramble on a loose ball.
Having to play against the wind which Warragul had been using to their advantage, the Lions would find a way to answer back with a goal of their own off the boot of the pocket rocket Teagan Brett. It would be the only score in the opening term for the Burgers as any attempt to move the ball forward was thawed by the Industrials to have the siren sound before they could respond back to cut the margin shorter.
Entering the second quarter of the game, the Lions looked even more dangerous as they were kicking with the wind, however much like the first quarter Warragul defense continued to be solid to stop any scores by the burgs and their intercept marking from the Lions forward entry attempts was superb denying any chance for Coburg to capitalize on wind for their goal scoring end.
This would not last for long as the Lions would be able to score another major as Mikayla Kotas would score a major after a scrap to gain control of the ball to cut down Industrials lead only to be followed up by Teagan Brett slotting through her second for the game to give Coburg the lead going into half time.
The third term saw Warragul come out strong from the gates almost capitalizing with a major to take the lead back. Bodies were flying at every contest following a stoppage as the Industrials would try to move the ball forward but would not be able to hit the score board for the major they craved. It would be the same case for the Lions who would keep facing the Warragul defense which maintained its strong form with its intercept marking being able to rebound the ball back into their attacking half of the ground to finally score a goal to reclaim the lead from the Lions again.
The Burgers would try to respond with a goal of their own by moving the ball quickly following the centre bounce, however neither team would give an inch as the games physicality picked up in the dying stages of the third which saw the Industrials hold their lead going into the fourth.
Going into the fourth a sense of urgency could be felt from the Lions exemplified with a Nicole Stewart chase down tackle as Coburg tried to move the ball into their attacking 50 from the middle as neither team could grasp the ball long enough to control the tempo of the game. Warragul would eventually move the ball into their half of the ground, but a quick moving Burgers side saw Kotas score her score major for the day.
The Industrials would try to make another push to reclaim the lead however Brett would have other ideas the feisty small forward would lay a thumping tackle on the opposition to win a holding the ball call that would see her convert for her third goal of the game to extend the Lions lead further followed up by a mad scramble and snap in the dying stages of the game to put the nail in the coffin as she scored her fourth to help the Lions claim the win.
Postgame, Coach Blake Wadley said his message to the girls was clear, “No B.S today, don’t give them an inch… effort, attitude and earn the respect back from them (Warragul)”.
SCORES-
COB: 1.0.6 | 3.2.20 | 3.2.20 | 6.3.39
WAR: 2.2.14 | 2.2.14 | 3.7.25 | 3.7.25
GOALS: (4) T.Brett & (2) M.Kotas
Catch more Lions footy this week at the following games:
Development Team (Away)-
vs Pearcedale at Pearcedale Recreation Reserve (Saturday 6th AUG at 12:00pm)
Senior Team (Home)-
vs Frankston at Piranha Park (Sunday 7th AUG at 12:00pm)
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