By Liam Shields
While Southport came away 40-point victors, the score line doesn’t entirely reflect what was a game of momentum, with both teams having large portions of domination.
Coburg’s round 14 clash against the Southport Sharks was a significant occasion for several individuals. Not only was co-vice Captain Nathan Boucher celebrating his 50th VFL game, but 1988 Premiership player David Williams was presented with a life membership to the club as an acknowledgement of his 45 game 144 goal career for the football club. Furthermore, the match served as the final game for outgoing CEO Sebastian Spagnuolo, whose impact at the club can be felt through all levels of the organisation.
The match began on a poor note for Coburg, who conceded the first 3 goals of the game until a brilliant snap from Tom Mackenzie registered the lions first for the match.
Coburg did well to stop the run and ball movement of Southport early, but struggled to gain possession of the footy themselves, with Dawson, Woodcock and Doran leading the way for Southport.
It was an undisciplined display from both throughout the game from both teams, as represented by 3, 50-meter penalties paid within the first 25 mins of the match.
Following a long range shot from McQueen, Southport led Coburg at the first change 5.3 (33) to 1.2 (8), with Southport dominating possession as well as clearance while Coburg did the best to defend the onslaught of inside 50s, with Ben Jepson and captain Jesse Corigliano standing strong for the ‘burgers.
Rectifying some of their problems from the first quarter Coburg won the first centre clearance and inside 50, however, Southport were able to counterattack, going end to end and resulting in a set shot goal from Fraser Thurlow.
With Southport’s lead growing to 32 points early in the second quarter, there were growing concerns that the game was already slipping away from Coburg, however, what was to follow was the greatest period of dominance Coburg has had all year.
It began with a Sam Mason mark and goal, ending a Southport run of 3 goals in a row, then, following a scoreless 10 minutes, a push in the back to Tom McKenzie in front of goal gave him his second for the match and Coburg two in a row, cutting the lead back to 20 points.
McKenzie threatened to kick his 3rd for the half, however, his right foot snap hit the post, however, he didn’t have to wait long, as a smart handball from Clarke gave a running McKenzie his third as Coburg began to capitalise on its dominance in the quarter, winning inside 50s and evening up the clearance and disposals deficit from the first quarter.
The half time siren sounded to a score line of Southport 6.6 (42) to Coburg 4.5 (29), cutting Southport’s lead to 13 points.
A perfect start to the third quarter for Coburg, as a long bomb from Daniel Johnson made it 4 goals in a row.
Southport’s Boyd Woodcock took a massive hanger but failed to convert a snap from 20 meters out. From this miss Coburg were able to get the ball to McKenzie in the middle who speared it into Aaron Clarke, converting from long range, not only making it 5 in a row for Coburg but closing the gap to 2 points.
Repeat entries inside 50 and a domination in clearances was the narrative of the 3rd quarter, as a point to Clarke and an almost miracle goal from Mitch Podhajski levelled the scores. Zach Malloy was flying and Jacob Dawson continued to rack up touches for Southport, however, the damage was all being down be Coburg.
After being 32 points down four and half minutes into the second, Coburg at long last hit the lead, as Aaron Clarke, who had presented all day, nailed a goal from outside 50, making it 6 goals in a row in 43 minutes and hitting the lead by 6 points. The sharks began a period of assertion, as they recorded repeated inside 50s and began to dominate possession much like the first quarter, however, they were wasteful in front of goal, kicking 2 behinds in 6 minutes of play. Another 50-meter penalty paid against Southport put D’Intinosante directly in front 30 meters out, putting through his first for the match and extending Coburg’s lead to double figures for the first time in the match, giving the Lions what would be for them a game high lead of 10 points.
Coburg’s run of goals was put to an end, as a contested mark from Riley Bowman gave Southport their first goal since the beginning of the second quarter, putting a full stop of Coburg’s season high streak of 7 unanswered goals. With the final siren ending the term with Coburg holding a 4-point lead. Southport 7.9 (51) 8.7 (55).
It didn’t take long for Southport to regain the lead, with a centre clearance and goal from Jack Sexton just 12 seconds into the final quarter.
Southport had seemingly put their scoring problems behind them, with Jack McQueen kicking his first for the match and extending Southport’s lead to 8 points. With all the momentum with them, Southport scored another goal straight from the centre bounce and in a blink of an eye the score now read 14 points Southport’s way.
A strong tackle and goal from former Gold Coast Sun Brayden Crossley piled on the pain for Coburg, as Southport began to run away with the game with the deficit continuing to grow. Byron Finch extended Southport’s lead out to 25 points, resulting in 6 unanswered goals in a row for Southport since Coburg’s run of 7. Despite the comeback from Coburg in the second and third quatres, Southport draw the margin back to 31 points once again, with Harry Law making it 7 in a row, quickly followed by another 50-meter penalty and goal to Southport making bringing a 47 point turn around for the Sharks. Boyd Woodcock capped off a brilliant game for Southport adding a goal to his 25 disposals.
Coburg managed to avoid a goalless last quarter, as Flea Weightman marked and, after the siren, kicked truly, ending Southport’s incredible run of 9 unanswered goals stretching from the 30-minute mark of the third quarter to the 31-minute mark of the last.
The final siren read Southport 15.12 (102) to Coburg 9.8 (62)
Coburg’s next match will be back in Melbourne, in an away clash against the Footscray Bulldogs at ETU stadium Saturday 1 July at 11:05am. Please come along to support our boys, or alternatively, watch online via afl.com.au or the AFL app. Our next home game will be the following week against Carlton at Piranha Park Saturday 8 July at 1:05pm.
Goal Kickers:
(3) T. McKenzie, (2) A. Clarke, (1) D’Intinosante, D. Johnston, S. Mason, K. Weightman
Best:
J. Corigliano, S. Mason, A. Clarke, T. McKenzie, B. Jepson, K. Weightman
Final Score:
Southport: 5.3 (33) | 6.6 (42) | 7.9 (51) | 15.12 (102)
Coburg: 1.2 (8) | 4.5 (29) | 8.7 (55) | 9.8 (62)
#WeAreCoburg
