By Mathew Asciak
Coburg welcomes a new inclusion to their playing list this week against Fitzroy, as Sally Norman makes her Lions debut this Saturday.
More recently Norman has applied her trade at Old Geelong, playing in their 2021 and 2022 campaigns. Norman was awarded won their Best Clubwoman award in 2022. In 2019, she played her footy in London, for the North London Lions.
Three Lions have been recalled to the squad for the trip to Fitzroy, with Damon, Cat O’Bryan and Teah Stepan all to feature in the Seniors.
Michelle Sliwinski and Morgan McNally are unavailable for selection for either team this weekend, while key forward Ruby Taranto will feature in the Development team.
Newly appointed Development team co-captain Natalie Todaro will make her first appearance since been given the captaincy. Versatile attacker Mia D’Agostino will return in the Development team this week after been unavailable for our previous match versus University.
Defensive duo Emma Chamberlain and Ella Menzies will be unavailable for selection for our round 12 clash.
Last time they met:
VAFA Women’s Premier Round 4, 2023: Coburg Lions def by Fitzroy: 1.4. (10) to 2.4. (16)
VAFA Women’s Premier Reserves Round 4, 2023: Coburg Lions def Fitzroy: 15.11. (101) to 3.0. (18)
Our Development team put in a great four quarter effort against the Fitzroy reserves, winning convincingly 101 to 18 on the back off a 5-goal haul from Kiana Minchin. Three other Lions chipped in with multiple majors, with Stephanie Filbay, Mikayla Kotas and Annalise Vine all booting two goals.
The Seniors had a tougher day at the office, only managing 1 major through forward Regina Said, going down by 1 goal. It tough, wet conditions, neither side was able to register a major score in the second half, meaning the two-goal to zero first term gave the travelling side enough breathing space to secure the narrow victory.
Match Preview:
The Lions return from their round 11 bye to travel to Brunswick Street Oval to take on Fitzroy in search of making amends for their round 4 loss in the reverse fixture. In tough, wet conditions, the Senior team were defeated by 6 points, which remains the only Fitzroy victory of the season.
Their last outing was in round 10 versus Melbourne University where they prevailed by 25-points, with Lauren Collis and Filbay starring with two goals apiece. They came out strong in 3rd term, kicking 5 unanswered goals to put the game beyond doubt going into the final term.
Our Development team will look to continue where they left off in round 4, looking to keep within reach of top spot, currently only one win behind Kew who still lead both competitions.
Seniors:
IN: Sophie Damon, Cat O’Bryan, Teah Stepan
OUT: Michelle Sliwinski, Ruby Taranto, Morgan McNally
Development
IN: Mia D’Agostino, Natalie Todaro, Sally Norman, Nicole Ghalioum
OUT: Emma Chamberlain, Ella Menzies
NEW: Sally Norman (North London Lions/Old Geelong)
Team Line-ups:
Seniors:
B 30 DACIA ABELA 12 AMY MITCHENER 4 LAILA ZAYAT
HB 10 AMY DUGUID 46 KIANA MINCHIN 24 JULIA MCARDLE
C 9 LAUREN COLLIS 45 CLAIRE CASHMAN 12 SOPHIE DAMON
HF 19 GEORGIA SAMPSON 6 REGINA SAID 23 SHERIDAN BENNETT
F 68 CHLOE PERRETT 70 CAT O’BRYAN 29 STEPH FILBAY
R 39 TASH PHIPPS 65 TAYLA DINUCCIO 18 ALANA WENBAN
INT 33 TARA CHETCUTI 11 ISABELLA HAYES 67 TEAH STEPAN 3 BREE UNTHANK
EMG 28 LISA HALFPENNY 31 LILLY PRIMERANO 22 RUBY TARANTO
Development:
B 35 SOMA GRIFFIN 71 JEN SMITH 47 NICOLE GHALIOUM
HB 38 ABI ADAMS 28 LISA HALFPENNY -SARAH JOLLY
C 48 CHLOE CATALANO 31 LILLY PRIMERANO – SALLY NORMAN
HF 15 MIA D’AGOSTINO 14 MIKAYLA KOTAS 57 LOUISIA CAVANAGH
F 66 ANNALISE VINE 22 RUBY TARANTO 32 JAZ SMITH
R 56 MALAYA RODEZNO 13 NAT TODARO 16 JACQUI BROMILOW
Match Details:
Round 12 | William Buck Premier Women’s | Premier Women’s Reserves
Fitzroy vs Coburg Lions
Brunswick Street Oval, Fitzroy North
Saturday 8th July, 2pm (Reserves 12pm)
*Coburg teams are subject to VFLW and Top Up player availability
#WeAreCoburg #LionMode
