Coburg posts fifth win in seven matches in VFL with victory over Footscray

Coburg posts fifth win in seven matches in VFL with victory over Footscray

Saady v Footscray

Coburg’s Ahmed Saad gets a kick away while under pressure from Footscray’s Zaine Cordy on Saturday. Picture: Richard Serong

Written by the Moreland Leaders’ Chris Cavanagh, published on the 5th of July, 2016.

HOPES of playing finals are rising at Piranha Park after the Coburg claimed another upset win in the VFL at the weekend.

The Lions showed plenty of heart once again as they led from start to finish to take down sixth-placed Footscray 13.7 (85) to 9.19 (73) on Saturday.

The win was Coburg’s fifth from its past seven games after a rocky start to the season which saw it lose four of its first five matches by 10 points or less.

“I think what’s been happening now is that our leadership players are starting to contribute more and it’s not just with their actions, it’s more with their voice and their direction and understanding what to do in certain situations,” Coburg coach Peter German said.

“Our form and our effort and what we are doing has been really consistent all season. I think there’s only been two games where we’ve probably felt that we weren’t good enough on the day.”

German said one match-up at the weekend summed up where the Lions were at.

Mark Orr — playing his 19th game of senior VFL football since graduating from TAC Cup side Western Jets in 2014 — was given the job on Western Bulldogs’ $6 million man Tom Boyd and arguably beat him despite the former No. 1 draft pick booting four goals.

“We worked out that Tom Boyd was on about $50,000 to play a game and Mark Orr was on about $250 a game. He broke even and I reckon probably even shaded him,” German said.

“That’s our footy club. We’re still the lowest paid, youngest team and we’re making some real headway in the second-strongest competition in Australia. That’s our story and that’s what’s really pivotal at the moment.”

Midfielder Liam Hunt (29 disposals, one goal) was named Coburg’s best in the win while ruckman Tom Goodwin (nine disposals, 35 hit-outs) and forward Ahmed Saad (six goals) also impressed.

Saad’s haul took his goal tally to 32 from 10 matches this season.

The Lions — who sit outside the top-eight only on percentage — will next meet third-placed Sandringham in Round 14 at Piranha Park on Saturday.