By Bruno Visentini
Coburg’s chance at ending a 22-game losing streak came down to the final kick of the game between the Lions and Williamstown on Good Friday, but the Seagulls ultimately walked away with the 4 points after beating the Lions by 6 points at Highgate Recreation Reserve.
The match was marked by some significant milestones with captain Jesse Corigliano celebrating his 100th VFL game, as well as the VFL debut for Ben Thompson and Caleb Ernst, but the side fell just short of marking the occasions with a win. The game was also the first time the newly christened Sea Shepherd Shield had been given to the winner of home and away games between the two sides following the alliance between Coburg and Sea Shepherd Australia.
The weather was as good as could be leading into the first VFL match at Highgate since Round 11 of 2021, and Jesse Corigliano won the toss before the game and chose to kick to the southern end of the ground. The Lions didn’t take long to capitalise on this, when Josh D’Intinosante slotted the first goal of the game within two minutes, and he was quickly followed by Caleb Ernst who kicked a goal with his first disposal at VFL level.
Williamstown fought back for a goal of their own, but after some time Kyle Weightman popped up to push the margin back out to 12 points with his first of the afternoon. Williamstown had answers though, as former Brisbane Lion Blake Coleman brought the margin back down to a goal, and when the first quarter ended the scores were level at 3.2 (20) apiece.
The second quarter was closer than it could’ve been as Williamstown struggled with accuracy. Three early behinds gave the Seagulls the lead, but Toby Triffett’s goal at the 10-minute mark stretched the margin to 9 points and ballooned as high as 15 points. Back-to-back Coburg goals from Joel Trudgeon and Braedyn Gillard kept the Lions well within striking distance and the game was back to being a 4-point contest at the main break.
Coburg came out of the blocks with plenty of opportunities having scored the first four behinds of the term, three of which were rushed, to tie the game back up 10 minutes into the third quarter, but Williamstown looked to get back in control when Nicholas Ebinger and Blake Coleman scored back-to-back goals within minutes of each other. A goal to Flynn Gentile in extra time kept the game well within reach for Coburg though, and the Lions trailed by a single goal at the last change to set up a massive fourth quarter.
The Seagulls had the perfect start when Blake Coleman kicked his third goal of the game within the first minute of the quarter, and after a behind was scored by each team, Williamstown found themselves up by 3 goals via Nicholas Ebinger’s third of the game. Kyle Weightman kicked his second to shrink the margin, but Williamstown’s lead ballooned as high as 20 points as the game approached time on.
From this point on, the game was dominated by Coburg. Weightman worked his magic and kicked goal number three, and after two more behinds by the Lions, Weightman had a fourth goal and Williamstown’s lead was down to one goal only 9 minutes after they had led by 20. Momentum was well and truly in Coburg’s favour as the stakes were raised, and before too long Tom McKenzie kicked a goal that sent the Coburg faithful into raptures and tied the game at 77 each way.
The ball was bounced to resume play in the middle and both sides were fatigued, but desperate to add something to the scoreboard and take the lead back late in the game. The final quarter was the longest with plenty of stoppages leading 14 minutes of added time, and with about 30 seconds left on the clock the ball was locked inside Williamstown’s forward 50.
It was a simple equation for both sides, if Williamstown could add any score they’d walk away as winner, but Coburg could take home two points if they didn’t let the Seagulls add that score. The ball came out of the pack via a quick kick, and it was marked by Jack Toner who wasn’t far from goal and on only a slight angle to take the kick. Time expired as Toner began his run up and needing any score to win, he kicked truly for his second of the game. His game-winning goal simultaneously led to elation for Williamstown’s fans and heartbreak for Coburg’s with the final score reading Coburg 11.11 (77) to Williamstown 12.11 (83).
Donovan Toohey was voted Lion of the Round after leading the side in disposals with 25, while other standouts included Joel Trudgeon who played a well-rounded game with 20 disposals, 6 marks, 5 tackles and a goal, and Kyle Weightman who led both teams for the game with 4 goals.
The VFL will have a league-wide week off due to the State Game against the SANFL, and Coburg will have the bye in Round 3 meaning the Lions will be back in VFL action in Round 4 when they take on Collingwood at Piranha Park on Sunday April 21st.
We hope to see the Coburg fanbase in full force after a long break. Go Lions!
FINAL SCORE
Coburg: 3.2 (20) | 5.3 (33) | 6.8 (44) | 11.11 (77)
Williamstown: 3.2 (20) | 5.7 (37) | 7.8 (50) | 12.11 (83)
GOALS
Coburg: Weightman (4), D’Intinosante, Ernst, Gentile, Gillard, McKenzie, Serong, Trudgeon (1)
Williamstown: Coleman, Ebinger (3), Toner, Triffett (2), Ellison, Petric (1)
