By Mathew Asciak
The Development endured a hard-fought win against Kew this afternoon, winning by 19 points, securing their maiden finals birth in their first season in the VAFA competition.
The game started with neither team able to gain clear control over the balance of play, with both teams entering their respective attacking 50’s without managing a score. Coburg were showing great intent around the ball, emphasised by a strong tackle by forward Armina Sherifi, preventing a Kew inside 50 and was awarded a free kick.
With 7 minutes left in the term, ruck Malaya Rodezno opened the scoring at Piranha Park, kicking truly from a set shot from close range. The Lions took a one goal margin at the first break.
Kew came flying out the blocks in the 2nd term, kicking their first goal in the opening minutes. Coburg hit back soon after, as Mia D’Agostino was awarded a free kick from high contact, regaining the lead for the home side.
Two goals late in the term from AnnalIse Vine and Rodezno gave the Lions a 13-point buffer at half-time.
A second goal to Rodezno extended the Lions lead early in the 3rd, but a quick response from Kew reduced the deficit back to 13. The highlight of the term came at the 12th minute mark as Alana Wenban executed a superb snap from 25m out on an acute angle.
With the game up for grabs in the final term, neither team was able to hit the scoreboard in the first 10 minutes of the term as the time looked likely to get the best of Kew’s chances of cutting into the deficit. A second major for D’Agostino out the margin to 21 with 6 minutes to go, creating a separation on the scoreboard that Kew were unable to catch, running out 19-point victors.
The Senior team looked to make amends for the early season defeat in the corresponding fixture earlier in the season and were more than up for it in the opening quarter, fighting tough and nail and keeping the away side to just one goal in the first term.
Versatile tall Georgia Sampson booted the only Lions goal of the term halfway through the quarter, cutting the Kew lead to a solitary point at the first change.
Coburg kept up the fight in the 2nd term, but Kew managed to create a 2-goal buffer at the main break, keeping the home side scoreless, taking a 19-6 half-time lead.
Midfielder Sarah Jolly hit the scoreboard in her Senior debut, keeping the Lions within striking distance, but were unable to cut the half time lead, trailing by 19 points at the final change.
The Last quarter was scrappy; neither team was able to generate many quality entries inside 50 with the ball spending most of its time between the arcs. A goal in the 17th minute mark of the term from Bree Unthank gave the Lions slim hopes of a monumental comeback in the final 3 minutes, but time ran out for the Lions, going down by 13 points.
Final Score:
Development:
Coburg Lions: 1.0. (6) | 4.2 (26) | 6.2. (38) | 7.4. (46)
Kew: 0.0. (0) | 2.1. (13) | 4.1. (25) | 4.3. (27)
Goals: Rodezno 2, Vine 2, D’Agostino 2, Wenban
Best: M.Rodezno, S.Piggott, A.Wenban, N.Todaro, L.Cavanagh, T.Chetcuti
Seniors:
Coburg Lions: 1.0. (6) | 1.0. (6) | 2.1. (13) | 3.1. (19)
Kew: 1.1. (7) | 3.1. (19) | 5.2. (32) | 5.2. (32)
Goals: Jolly, Sampson, Unthank
Best: K.Minchin, S.Jolly, A.Adams, C.Cashman, R.Said, T.Dinuccio
