The Development Lions have won their second game In a row, narrowly defeating the Frankston Dolphins by 5 points at Frankston Park.
After leading for all of the game, the Development side lost the lead late in the final term, only to regain it with minutes to go, escaping narrowly with the four points.
In a tight contest, in the rain, goals were always going to be hard to come by and the Lions, while not playing their best footy, grind the game out.
The Lions were lead from the midfield by the likes of Merlo, McConville and Posar while Nick Robortella and Cam Holdsworth were solid in their return.
Both sides pushed forward early in the match, however, neither converted with four shots on goal resulting in only two behinds.
Good forward pressure from Callum Urquhart and Rhys Free caused a turnover, which Garret McDonagh diligently slotted from 50 metres out.
Matt King snapped another beauty from out of the pack and Dylan McDonald finished some slick transition work to give Coburg a handy buffer on a day where goals were at a premium.
The back six managed to keep Frankston goalless for the quarter, with the boys taking an early 24 point lead.
Frankston managed to break the tight Coburg defence to score the opening two goals of the quarter, increased pressure on the ball carrier causing multiple Lions Turnovers.
The Dolphins pressed again with Coburg lacking a touch of composure when going forward, not kicking a goal to Frankston’s two, holding the half time lead by 9 points after a scrappy quarter.
The Development Lions came out with better intent at the start of the 3rd quarter, putting their bodies over the ball.
Jake Kalanj and Dion Hill both hit the scoreboard, as the Lions midfield began to put on some pressure of their own, Michael Ercolano, Nick Robortella and Matt Merlo leading the way with 12 tackles.
The Lions dropped their head after the good start allowing Frankston to get two goals back, the three quarter time margin, 13 points.
Frankston carried momentum into the last quarter kicking an early goal to reduce the lead to seven points.
The lead was cut to two points for the first time since the opening quarter, before a centre clearance gave the dolphins their maiden lead of the game.
The Lions dug in and ground it out, pressing forward time after time before Jake Kalanj managed to get on the end of a Rhys Free bomb to put the Lions in front late in the last, and that is how the game would end. The Development Lions winning a tight one by 4 points.
Best: Hill, Orr, Robortella, Clark, Urquhart, Ercolano
Goals: Hill 2, Kalanj 2 McDonagh, King, McDonald, Robortella
