By Mathew Asciak
Caufield started well in the opening minutes, creating multiple deep forward 50 entries. They would get rewarded for the fast start, kicking their opening goal in the first 5 minutes, but the celebrations would be short lived, as it would turn out to be their only major of the match.
Coburg settled into the game soon after conceding, with the likes of Alana Wenban, Jacqui Bromilow, Jenna Smith and Soma Griffin. Abigail Adams was racking up intercept possessions with relative ease, sweeping up any potential Grammarian threats.
Annalise Vine was lively up forward and was showing immense effort and defensive intensity, which would culminate in the Lions first goal of the day and the quarter-time lead.
The second term was a less free flowing than the first, with neither team able to register a major score. Coburg continued to threaten the travelling side but were unable to convert.
Coburg would create the desired scoreboard pressure in the 2nd half, kicking 3 goals unanswered to help bridge a 25-point gap at the final change. Emily Balaburov would kick two of her three goals in the 3rd term, while Wenban would kick her first goal of the season, breaking through a pack in the forward pocket and slotting it through with ease.
The dominance for Coburg began in the midfield and it was largely due to the outstanding ruck craft shown by Malaya Rodezno, who was at the forefront of the ascendency around the stoppages.
Fourth quarter goals to Balaburov and Mikalya Kotas would round out the comprehensive 44-point win, solidifying their place in the top 4.
Looking to keep in touching distance of the top 6, the Senior team who currently sit 8th on the ladder were looking to get their first win since round 2.
Things got off on the wrong foot however, much like the Development team earlier, finding themselves behind in the opening minutes after a good intercept mark and goal from Caulfield.
Playing in her fourth senior game for Coburg, Sheridan Bennett would have a chance to open her goal scoring account after taking a mark for close range on a 45-degree angle. Bennett would make good of her chance, opening her account and the Lions’ first.
Caufield will regain the upper hand in the following exchanges, kicking two late goals to create a 13-point quarter time buffer.
The 2nd term was a tight affair, with only one goal to come out of it in the way of Steph Filbay. Caufield still maintained a 7-point half time lead.
Coburg were quick off the blocks in the 2nd half, getting two quick goals from Bennett and Filbay in the first 5 minutes, immediately erasing the Caufield lead and leveling the scores. Tash Phipps was battling hard in the ruck, giving the likes of Lauren Collis and Hayley Baber a chance to get the ball in advantageous positions as Coburg looked to surge the ball forward.
The match was in the balance at 3QT, with the margin at 4 points in favour of the Grammarians. Dacia Abela was superb in the final term, with multiple goal saving efforts. Coburg would take the lead at the midway point of the term following some great work by Filbay to keep the ball in play, it would find its way to Elsa Mangan who would slot in through from the top of the goal square.
The last few minutes were nervy for the Lions as the Grammarians threw everything at them in search for the winning goal, but to no avail, succumbing to a 2-point deficit.
Final Score:
Development:
Coburg Lions: 1.2. (8) | 1.3.(9) | 4.7.(31) | 7.10.(52)
Caufield Grammarians: 1.0.(6) | 1.0.(6) | 1.0.(6) | 1.0.(6)
Goals: Balaburov 3, Vine, Wenban, McArdle, Kotas
Best: M.Rodezno, A.Wenban, E.Balaburov, J.Smith, S.Griffin, A.Adams
Seniors:
Coburg Lions: 1.1.(7) | 2.1.(13) | 4.4.(28) | 5.5.(35)
Caufield : 3.2.(20) | 3.2.(20) | 5.2.(32) | 5.3.(33)
Goals: Bennett 2, Filbay 2, Mangan
Best: S.Bennett, S.Filbay, T.Phipps, L.Collis, H.Baber, D.Abela
#WeAreCoburg #LionMode
