By Mathew Asciak
Coburg will make three changes for their opening home game of the 2023 VAFA Premier Season, blooding two more debutants for their clash against Old Xaverians, its first ever home game in the VAFA competition.
After being a late omission last week due to injury, Tayla Dinuccio will make their Lions debut. Dinuccio made the switch to Piranha Park after playing in the NFNL for the VU Western Spurs. The defender brings more VFLW experience the squad, entering her 2nd season at Williamstown, after playing for the Western Bulldogs VFLW in 2019 and 2021.
Signed from last week’s opponents Melbourne University, key defender Cat O’Bryan will suit up of the Burgers and will add more leadership presence across the backline after joining the leadership group at University for the 2015 season.
Ruck Natasha Phipps will make her first appearance in the Lions home and away season, following consecutive appearances for Williamstown, including their win last week versus the Darebin Falcons, where she secured 13 hit-outs and 2 clearances.
Making way for this week’s inclusions are Natalie Todaro, Kiana Minchin and Sophie Damon.
With the Development team having the week off for round 2 of the 2023 VAFA Premier Reserves season, all eyes will be on the Lions Seniors’ who will welcome Old Xaverians to Piranha Park for their first game on home soil for their VAFA Premier campaign. The new look Lions proved they are more than equipped for the VAFA level, despite suffering a narrow 3-point loss to the oldest stalwart of the VAFA, Melbourne University, but showed positive signs throughout in trying conditions at Melbourne University Oval.
One of the nine debutants for the seniors last week, half-back Julia McArdle, was among the best performers for the Burgers. The former Falcon superb off half back, complementing 2021 Best and Fairest Dacia Abela, who was named best afield for the Burgers.
Reliable goalkicker Regina Said was among the goals once again for the Lions, alongside Mia D’Agostino who was the sole multiple goal kicker with two majors on the day.
Entering their centenary season, with the women’s program entering its 6th season, the Lions round two opponents Old Xaverians will look to make amends for their lacklustre performance last week, restricted to a scoreless second half fade out against the newly promoted Collegians side, going down by 63 points at Greythorn Park.
Team line-up:
B 53 SULEIMAN 12 MITCHENER 30 ABELA
HB 26 CHISHOLM 70 O’BRYAN 24 MCARDLE
C 10 DUGUID (Capt) 5 MCNALLY 9 COLLIS
HF 29 FILBAY 6 SAID 67 STEPAN
F 15 D’AGOSTINO 58 MANGAN 27 LAFFEY
R 39 PHIPPS 41 KOROPECKYJ 11 HAYES
INT 4 ZAYAT 65 DINUCCIO 36 SLIWINSKI 3 UNTHANK
EME ADAMS 38 23 BENNETT 22 TARANTO
IN: O’Bryan, Dinuccio, Phipps
OUT: Todaro, Damon, Minchin
NEW: Cat O’Bryan (Melbourne University), Tayla Dinuccio (VU Western Spurs)
EMG: Adams, Bennett, Taranto
Match Details:
Round 2 | VAFA Williams Buck Premier Women’s
Coburg Lions vs Old Xaverians
Piranha Park
Saturday 22nd April, 11:40am
*Coburg’s team is pending VFLW team selection
