By Nicholas Galea
In addition to the recent announcement of the 2021 intra-club practice match in Longwood and with round one of the new-look 2021 VFL season less than months away the Coburg Football Club would like to inform its loyal and dedicated fanbase, members and sponsors that it will be playing three practice matches in the lead up to the season proper.
The first two practice matches of the 2021 preseason will see the Coburg Football Club make the trip to Waurn Ponds on the outskirts of Geelong where it will face the Geelong VFL team on Saturday March 20th and then the Williamstown Football Club on Sunday March 28th.
The third and final hit-out of the preseason will see the Lions travel to Frankston to take on the Dolphins in another all-standalone affair that will also double as the first ever Coburg FC v Frankston FC Men’s and Women’s double header match day.
The Women’s game will kick off at 10.30am and the Men’s game at 2pm.
The Coburg Football Club encourages it’s Members to make the trip to each of it’s 2021 practice matches and support the team as it prepares for a very exciting 2021 season.
Senior Men’s coach Andrew Sturgess couldn’t be more excited for the opportunities that lay ahead for both sides and believes that 2021 shapes up as a promising year filled with belief and creating a successful, winning culture.
‘We want to instil a culture that is a winning culture and we want to instil a culture of belief amongst our playing group so you can come along as a Coburg fan expecting us to play really hard and to win,’ Sturgess said.
‘I think it’s going to shape up really nicely encountering that high level of competition really early in the year so to speak, so it hopefully holds us in good stead for round one.’
‘I think it will set the foundation for the rest of the year and what’s to come…. We have the talent, we have the culture and the game plan to be able to win games of footy.’
Sturgess also described the double-header against Frankston as a “historic day” for the Coburg Football Club with the Club’s first ever Women’s team playing in its inaugural fixture.
‘It is a historic day, obviously our Women’s team are entering into the competition and coming into existence this year,’ he said.
‘It is a really important day so to have the opportunity to play both Men’s and Women’s football between two clubs that are proud standalone clubs is really exciting and I’m really looking forward to seeing what the women do.’
‘It will be a really good day to see them go about their business and hopefully they stick around and watch us go about our business and hopefully Coburg can come away with two wins.’
According to Sturgess, 2021 is about optimism and renewed belief in the Clubs ability to perform at the highest level as it looks to make its mark once again on the competition.
‘Our actions are going to be the proof in the pudding; the momentum that we’re building, the energy that’s around the club, the 130-year celebration (of the Club), the women’s team coming into the competition, the redevelopment of our rooms and sponsors and members coming back on board, it’s all fantastic,’ he said.
‘I said to the players the other night that we’re the ones that have a responsibility to deliver and we shouldn’t take that lightly.’
‘We should be really proud and embrace that we’re the ones who get to do that work.’
‘For our members I don’t think there’s any better time to get on the train now and to support the Coburg Football Club.’
‘I think what you’re going to see in 2021 is going to come to fruition when we play games of football and the Coburg Football Club is winning games.’
Practice Game Schedule:
Match 1: Geelong VFL v Coburg, Saturday March 20th, 1pm start @ Deakin University, Pigdons Rd, Waurn Ponds VIC.
Match 2: Williamstown v Coburg, Sunday March 28th, 12pm start @ Deakin University, Pigdons Rd, Waurn Ponds VIC.
Match 3: Frankston v Coburg, Friday April 2nd, 7:30pm start @ Skybus Stadium, Cnr Plowman Pl and Young St Frankston
If you’re yet to formalise your support of the club in 2021, you can click here to select a membership package https://coburgfc.com.au/membership/ and confirm your commitment today!
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