FRANKSTON may be a side many are tipping to finish on the lower rungs of the VFL ladder this season.
But Coburg coach Peter German says his side will not be taking the Dolphins lightly this weekend.
The two sides will meet at Piranha Park on Saturday as the Lions look to chalk up a second win from as many matches at home this season.
“I’ve got no doubt that on their day they can be as good as anyone,” German said of Frankston.
“We played them the other week (in a practice match) and even though we won comfortably you could see signs there that at times they can really hit the scoreboard.
“It’s just like any team at the start of the year. Everyone’s fighting for position and early wins can be really important come the end of the season.”
The match comes a fortnight after Coburg got its season off to the best of starts with a Round 1 win over Richmond.
In front of the biggest home crowd they have had in years, the Lions roared to a 15-point victory, 15.10 (100) to 12.13 (85), confirming they are a side on the rise.
The underdogs going into the match, their result surprised most VFL punters.
But for German it was anything but a shock.
“It might have surprised a lot of people, but from my point of view that’s a result that, in many ways, I expected,” he said.
“We’re a totally different side to what we were last year. We’re a whole different setup. We’re a whole different club, really.”
The home side was clinical in its output and ferocious at the footy. It had 21 more tackles than Richmond and won more than its fair share of contested ball.
A big third quarter saw the Lions open up a gamehigh 28-point lead at threequarter time.
While Richmond ran out the game better, Coburg already had four points secured.
Nick Carnell led from the front, German noting it was the most influential game he had seen from the skipper.
Michael Hartley was once again a rock in defence, as was Nathan Blair.
Midfielder Ozgur Uysal was the leading possession winner on the ground with 31 touches, while Daniel Venditti (25 disposals) also won plenty of the footy.
Former Calder Cannons forward Josh Cauchi booted three goals from 15 disposals in his first senior match.
Story by Chris Cavanagh
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