By Mathew Asciak
An amazing performance from the Lions’ Development team was the highlight for Coburg as they travelled to Camberwell Sports Ground yesterday afternoon with 14 players to face Old Scotch, emerging with an astounding 61-point victory.
Despite only having one player on the bench from the outset, the Lions refused to show any weakness, dominating the opening the opening term as they kicked into the breeze which would hamper play as the opposing team would attempt to exit their defensive 50 throughout the game.
The game was in the balance for the first half of the quarter with neither team able to break the deadlock until midway through the quarter, when Lions midfielder Lilly Primerano kicked the opening goal of the match. This was the beginning of the Lions’ surge, finding two more first quarter majors through Mikayla Kotas and Emily Balaburov, giving the away side a handy 23-point lead the first break.
Kicking into the strong breeze in the 2nd term, Coburg were challenged throughout term, with the home side able to get a foothold in the contest but were still unable to create any meaningful chances in their forward half, even with the breeze. Abigail Adams was great down back for the Burgers, patrolling the back half and laying some great tackles. Goals from Balaburov and Taylan Merrick extended the Lions advantage to 37 at the main break.
Making her return to the Lions in 2023 as a top up player capacity, Kristelle Vanderwolf was great throughout, epitomised in the 3rd quarter goal as the lively half forward showed strong pair of heels to accelerate from the Old Scotch defenders and slotted the ball through. Ruby Taranto made herself known in the 3rd term, kicking 2 goals to put the margin well beyond the home side, creating a 9-goal buffer at the final change.
Taranto would add a third goal in the opening 30 seconds of the final term and it would be the final major score for the match, with the Lions prevailing despite being shorthanded, winning by 61 points.
The Seniors had a tougher day out against their Old Scotch opponents, going scoreless in the opening term and were unable to create much going forward against the breeze which was still present from the earlier fixture.
Trailing by 13 at quarter time, Stephanie Filbay (10 disposals, 4 marks, 1 goal) kicked the Lions first and only major, 12 minutes into the 2nd term. Lauren Collis was the Lions leading possession winner, finishing with 16 disposals to go with her 4 tackles and 2 clearances. Despite losing the clearance count 24-38, Coburg fought hard defensively, laying 80 tackles, led by Isabella Hayes who had 8, along with 5 clearances.
Neither was able to register another major score in the 2nd half, with the home side eventually grinding out a nervy 6-point win.
Final Score:
Development:
Old Scotch: 0.0.(0) | 0.0.(0) | 0.1.(1) | 0.3.(3)
Coburg Lions: 3.5.(23) | 5.7.(37) | 8.9.(57) | 9.10.(64)
Goals: Taranto 3, Balaburov 2, Kotas, Merrick, Vanderwolf, Primerano
Best: R.Taranto, L.Primerano, A.Adams, E.Balaburov, N.Todaro, K.Vanderwolf
Seniors:
Old Scotch: 2.1.(13) | 2.1.(13) | 2.4.(16) | 2.4.(16)
Coburg Lions: 0.0.(0) | 1.2.(8) | 1.3.(9) | 1.4.(10)
Goals: Filbay
Best: T.Stepan, S.Bennett, C.Cashman, H.Baber, S.Filbay, G.Sampson
