By Mathew Asciak
The Coburg Women’s program has named its maiden line-ups for their debut appearance
in the VAFA competition, as they travel to Melbourne University Oval to take on Melbourne University in their opening encounter of the 2023 season.
As is the case with round 1 fixtures, it gives an opportunity for teams to unearth newly acquired talent they acquired over the off-season, which is very much the case for Burgers this weekend, with 23 players making their debuts.
There will be 9 debutants in the Senior squad. Taking their place in the back six is Michelle Sliwinski, formerly of Moonee Valley and one of the fourteen VFLW listed players on the squad, twelve of whom represent Williamstown, under the tutelage of former Coburg Women’s head coach, Liam Cavanagh. Making their Coburg debut this weekend however, Seagull Julia McArdle will look to make their mark in Lions colours, after a successful season in 2022, making the Grand Final with the Darebin Falcons.
New recruits Elsa Mangan, Jemma Laffey, Steph Filbay and Kiana Minchin add more
firepower to the Lions scoring threat. Key Forward Mangan is also part of the Williamstown brigade, but player her local footy in West Brunswick before making the switch to Piranha Park. Laffey joins us from Montmorency after a successful season for the Magpies, taking home their Most Improved Player award for their Senior squad.
Filbay was a member of the Cooparoo 2020 premiership side in the QAFL Development
league against Yeronga South Brisbane.
Minchin joins us from the Boisdale-Briagolong FNC, had a fantastic season in 2018 which won her the club Best and Fairest award.
Bree Unthank, formerly of Greensborough and current Carlton VFLW asset, takes the key Ruck spot for the opening round clash. Rounding out the team is North Melbourne VFLW product, Teah Stepan, signing on from St.Kevins.
An injury to Tayla Dinuccio will open the door for Natalie Todaro to make her competitive debut for the Lions, after signing from the Mernda Demons in the off-season.
Amy Duiguid will lead the team out for the first time in the search for four premiership
points, since taking the reins for captaincy from Maddie Edwards for the 2023 season.
The two emergencies for the match-up are Tara Chetcuti and Hayley Baber.
Of the 24 players listed for the reserves, 14 are making their debuts this weekend.
Occupying the back pocket is Emily Balaburov, joining us from RMIT. Covering the back flank is three new Lions. Making the switch from Bendigo, Abigail Adams will slot in the back six, alongside Soma Griffin and Chloe Catalano. Griffin joins us in 2023 after playing at
Brunswick in the VAFA Premier C Reserves. Catalano applied her trade for the Coburg
Districts Football Club out in Pascoe Vale in the EDFL, before making the switch to the red and blue.
After a strong season in the NFNL for Hurstbridge, Sheridan Bennett will make her
competitive debut for the Lions, occupying the wing. The forward pockets will also feature Lions.
Versatile tall Georgia Sampson will line-up in the Lions forward half. Sampson joins us in 2023 after playing in the EDFL for Essendon Doutta Stars. Another EDFL product, Sarah Piggott will make the sash colour change from yellow to red, after switching from the Westmeadows Tigers. Formerly of our Sunday opponents, Jazmine Smith will debut against her old side.
Signed from West Brunswick AFC, Malaya Rodezno is trusted as the primary ruck duties for round 1, alongside ruck rover, Taylan Merrick who joins from established VAFA club, Collegians. The bench comprised of six players, contains four debutants.
The inclusion of Todaro to the senior side will grant Chloe Perrett with their opportunity to debut, since joining from Flemington.
Jenna Smith signed from fellow VAFA side Kew in the off-season and will make their maiden Lions appearance, as will Lisa Halfpenny and Bowen Hackett, switching from Darebin and Hornsby Lions in NSW respectively.
The Lions had a faultless pre-season, with both Seniors and Reserves winning all 3 games. Notably, the Reserves side did so without conceding a single point, winning their final two games by 100+ points.
For the home side, Melbourne Uni had a strong season in 2022, making a finals appearance but was ultimately knocked out in the semi-finals after a 7-point defeat to Caulfield Grammarians.
Team lineups:
Seniors
B 53 SULIEMAN 12 MITCHENER 30 ABELA
HB 26 CHISHOLM 36 SLIWINSKI 24 MCARDLE
C 10 DUGUID (Capt) 11 HAYES 9 COLLIS
HF 29 FILBAY 15 D’AGOSTINO 49 DAMON
F 46 MINCHIN 58 MANGAN 27 LAFFEY
R 3 UNTHANK 41 KOROPECKYJ 5 MCNALLY
INT 4 ZAYAT 13 TODARO 6 SAID
67 STEPAN
EME 33 CHETCUTI 31 PRIMERANO 1 BABER
Reserves
B 33 CHETCUTI 7 UMAKI 21 BALABUROV
HB 35 GRIFFIN 38 ADAMS 48 CATALANO
C 23 BENNETT 16 BROMILOW 1 BABER
HF 19 SAMPSON 14 KOTAS 57 CAVANAGH
F 40 PIGGOTT 22 TARANTO 32 JAZ SMITH
R 56 RODEZNO 34 MERRICK 31 PRIMERANO
INT 28 HALFPENNY 68 PERRETT 42 HACKETT
71 JEN SMITH 18 WENBAN 52 ANDERSON
Match details:
VAFA Round 1
Melbourne University vs Coburg Lions
Melbourne University Oval
Sunday 16th April, 2pm (Reserves 12pm)
*Coburg team selection is pending VFLW player selection.
