BY DANIEL ATAMIAN
It’s one of Victoria’s oldest competitions and the Coburg Football Club; one of Victoria’s oldest clubs, is finally in the Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) ranks after making the move over from the South East Women’s Football League where they spent their first two years since the teams inception after 130 years. The Lions have kick started their campaign in the VAFA competition by taking on the Melbourne University Women’s Football Club (MUWFC) in a muchly anticipated match up that was live streamed on Kommunity TV.
Coburgs Development side was first to kick off the day’s events at Melbourne University’s home game in what would be a very wet and slippery game after the heavy downpour the night prior which would see the Lions get off to a shaky start until they adapted to the conditions and found their feet which would come via an opening goal from Ruby Taranto who’s strong hands over head would prove to be a factor as the ball would become heavy very quickly from the wet conditions. The second quarter would see MUWFC answer back with a goal of their own capitalising on a strong wind blowing their way, Taranto once again would hit the scoreboard with her second goal of the game after what would seem to be a game of soccer as neither team could gain contrl of the ball in the slippery and wet conditions; heightened by the mid game rain, MUWFC would look to cut the deficit with another goal on the siren but the Lions would erase any chance of a score by clearing the ball from the goal line.
Entering the second half of the Development Teams game saw the weather worsen as the rain picked up, and much like the opening half of the game the ball would be hard to gain control of by either team, Coburg; though able to lock the ball into their attacking 50, could not seem to find the answer to convert for a major score, enter Lions debutant Georgia Sampson, who would find a way to break through and score the opening goal of the half which would quickly be followed up by a third goal from Taranto in what would be a Best on Ground performance. Heading into the final quarter it would be MUWFC to kick the first goal of the quarter as they looked to swing the momentum of the game to gain a last ditch effort to steal the victory from the Burgers until another debutant stepped up to the plate as Taylan Merrick would seal the victory for Coburg by slotting through a set shot on goal that would allow the Lions to play out the clock for the remainder of their game to seal the victory.
The Senior side would be next to play as newly appointed captain Amy Duguid would lead her team to leave her own mark on the clubs history books. However it would not be the start Coburg were looking for as MUWFC was able to draw first blood by kicking the opening goal. The conditions did not look ideal as the continued rain and the previous Development Team game did not help the ground as the Lions would look to try and work the ball back for their own score coming courtesy of the skipper, though the intensity and hunger to win the ball was there the conditions made it hard for either team to control the ball until a set shot opportunity by Mia D’Agostino would help the Lions hold onto the lead going at the end of the first. Going into the second the Lions would come out firing just as they ended the previous quarter trying to get the jump on MUWFC, however MUWFC would not be deterred nor back down from this challenge as they would continue to fight back and level the scores of their own keeping the game close until a set shot before the half time siren would give them the lead as they looked to take the wind out of Coburgs sail.
Third quarter action would start off on a dryer note as the sun finally decided to appear as a forward spearhead Regina Said would continue to add to her Coburg goal tally as she slotted through another goal to tie up the scores, this would be short lived as a free kick to MUWFC would see them take the lead back and hold onto it going into the final stage of the game. A valiant effort by the “Burgers” to keep up the intensity to snatch back the lead would not be easy as MUWFC would not let the ball go past their defensive 50 arc, Coburg would look dangerous however when it finally made it into their attacking 50 as D’Agostino would be rewarded with a free kick after a tackle infront of goals which Mia would be able to convert to help reclaim the lead. MUWFC would not go down however as they would receive a free kick of their own and convert for a major score to take the lead back to what would ensue to be a race against the clock which would see Coburg find rhythm and flow to get the ball moving into their attacking 50, however the Lions would struggle to convert their next two attempts from free kicks MUWFC would bomb the ball deep towards their attacking half of the ground as the clock would ultimately run out for the Lions as they would narrowly go down in their VAFA debut.
Bests
Development: H. Baber, S. Bennett, T. Merrick, C. Perrett, M. Rodezno & R. Taranto
Seniors: D. Abela, L. Collis, K. Koropeckyj, J. McArdle, M. McNally & B. Unthank
Goals
Development: (3) R. Taranto & (1) T. Merrick and G. Sampson
Seniors: (2) M. D’Agostino & (1) A. Duguid and R. Said
Catch more Coburg VAFA action next week as the Lions host Old Xaverians at Piranha Park on Saturday 22nd April at 11:40am.
#WeAreCoburg #LionMode
