By Mathew Asciak
Two more Lions will make Senior debuts this week, as they welcome bottom placed Fitzroy to Piranha Park this Saturday.
Versatile forward Sheridan Bennett and key defender Abigail Adams will make their Senior debuts this weekend, following their early season form in the Development team.
Bennett joined the Lions in the off-season after having a great individual season at Hurstbridge.
Joining from the Bendigo Thunder in the Central Victorian Football League in 2023, Adams has been a great addition to our defensive stocks, featuring in both wins for the Development team this season.
There will be 5 changes for both Seniors and Development team this week, with Hayley Baber, Julia McArdle and Sophie Damon re-joining the fold this week, alongside the two debutants.
VFLW Listed Lion Lauren Suleiman will be unavailable, as will forward Jemma Laffey who will miss due to illness. Cat O’Bryan will be rested, while Stephanie Filbay and Mia D’Agostino have been omitted and will feature for the Development team.
Joining Filbay and D’Agostino in the Development team is Jenna Smith, Sarah Piggott and Taylan Merrick.
Making way for the additions for the Development squad are Chloe Catalano and Bowen Hackett as Bennett, Baber and Adams are all evaluated to the Seniors.
The Senior team will look bounce back after their tough encounter against St. Kevins last week, while the Development team will look to continue their undefeated start to the season, searching for their 3rd victory.
Key forwards Elsa Mangan and Georgia Sampson have been in fine form in 2023, currently with 8 and 6 goals on the season. Mangan currently leads the competition on the goalkicking standings.
Sampson was superb for the Lions against St. Kevins, booting a game high 5 goals, earning best afield honours in the 37-point victory.
Kayla Koropeckyj (16 disposals, 6 clearances) and Isabella Hayes (21 disposals, 5 clearances) continued their strong partnership in and around the contest.
Skipper Amy Duguid (11 disposals, 5 tackles) had a strong outing versus the Saints, pacing 2nd in the matchday votes for the Lions, behind Lauren Collis (6 disposals, 1 tackle) who worked tirelessly across the wing and half forward.
Team line-ups:
Seniors:
B 30 ABELA 12 MITCHENER 24 MCARDLE
HB 4 ZAYAT 39 PHIPPS 36 SLIWINSKI
C 10 DUGUID 5 MCNALLY 23 BENNETT
HF 6 SAID 58 MANGAN 9 COLLIS
F 67 STEPAN 22 TARANTO 1 BABER
R 3 UNTHANK 11 HAYES 41 KOROPECKYJ
INT 38 ADAMS 65 DINUCCIO 26 CHISHOLM 49 DAMON
EMG 33 CHECUTI 68 PERRETT 19 SAMPSON
Development:
B 33 CHETCUTI 7 UMAKI 35 GRIFFIN
HB 28 HALFPENNY 71 JEN SMITH 40 PIGGOT
C 34 MERRICK 13 TODARO 68 PERRETT
HF 19 SAMPSON 15 D’AGOSTINO 29 FILBAY
F 14 KOTAS 46 MINCHIN 21 BALABUROV
R 56 RODEZNO 16 BROMILOW 18 WENBAN
INT 32 JAZ SMITH 31 PRIMERANO 37 CAVANAGH
Development:
IN: Jen. Smith, Merrick, D’Agostino, Piggott, Filbay
OUT: Bennett, Baber, Adams, Catalano, Hackett
Seniors:
IN: Bennett, Adams, Baber, McArdle, Damon
OUT: Suleiman (unavailable), Laffey (illness), O’Bryan (rested), D’Agostino (omitted), Filbay (omitted)
EMG: Chetcuti, Perrett, Sampson
NEW: Bennett (Hurstbridge), Adams (Bendigo Thunder)
Match details:
Round 4 | Williams Buck Premier Women’s | Premier Women’s Reserves
Coburg Lions vs Fitzroy
Piranha Park
Saturday 6th May, 11:40am (Reserves 9:40am)
*Coburg team selection is pending VFLW and Top-up player selection
