By Nathan Spicer
The Lions have rounded out the pre-season with a commendable 13-point loss to a strong Werribee side last night at Highgate Reserve.
Coburg 9.7.61 were always in the contest against Werribee 10.14.74 and it took a late run home from the Tigers with the wind to finally get over the top of the Lions.
Going into the game without co-captains Ryan Exon and Peter McEvoy, the Lions were slow out of the block and it took a special goal from ruckman Adam Swierzbiolek to kickstart the side taking the ball out of the ruck and snapping from 55 meters out. This would be the start of a impressive showing from the big ruckman who ended up being one of the Lions best for the evening.
Josh D’Intinosante would continue his good pre-season form kicking his first and bringing the margin back to eight points at the first change.
After Werribee kicked away early in the second Aaron Clarke would hit back after profiting from some nice evasive work by youngster Flynn Gentile.
Goal of the night would go to Charlie Thompson making the margin 15 points before the main break. Thompson picked up a ball in dispute broke away from the pack and finished from a tight angle 40 meters out.
The third quarter was all Coburg, Braedyn Gillard would nail the first followed by second majors to Clarke and Thompson which would put the Lions in front heading into the final term.
The start of the last would be much like the third with a goal putting the Lions up by 10 points, from there though it was all Werribee a late goal from Thompson his third wasn’t enough but rounded of a superb performance from the gun midfielder.
The result leaves the Lions with a 1-2 record in the pre-season a strong win against Essendon last week intersected two admirable performances against Frankston and Werribee.
The Lions have a bye in Round 1 before the season opener against Port Melbourne in Round 2 at Piranha Park.
Coburg 9.7.61
Werribee 10.14.74
Goalkickers: C.Thompson 3, Clarke 2, Swizerbiolek, Gillard, Sibbald, D’Intinosante
Unavailable for the match: Exon, Sturgess, Podhajski, McEvoy, McLarty, B Jepson, Andronaco, Reddick, Whelan
Playing in local practice matches this week: Guccione, Marsh, Ryan, Kemp, Mason, Howard, M Thompson
