Round 18 Preview: Coburg V Werribee

Jack Kovacic

Coming off of a bye last week, Coburg will return to action in the VFL this weekend when it hosts Werribee at Piranha Park.
The Lions put together some of their best performances of the season in the weeks leading up to the bye, drawing against Sandringham while also scoring a comfortable win over Frankston. With just three games left of Coburg’s 2018 VFL campaign, the team will be eager to get some more victories on the board as it begins to build for 2019.
Werribee are coming off of a big defeat at the hands of ladder leading Richmond last weekend, and with just one victory in its last four games, will be eager to defeat Coburg and finish the season strongly.
With an increase in the number and quality of inside 50’s in the weeks leading up to the bye, Coburg were able to generate higher quality shots at goal which led to the team being able to apply more scoreboard pressure on their opposition. The forward line play of Peter McEvoy, Sam Lowson and Hish Kerbatieh will have to be at a similar level to what was produced in those matches if Coburg are continue its good form.
Coburg’s defence will also have to stand up on Saturday when it comes up against a Werribee forward line which features some of the most dangerous forwards in the competition. Andrew Hooper is inside the top 10 VFL leading goalkickers and will need to be watched closely.
Sean Gregory will be a massive addition this week as the key defender makes his return from injury while first year defender Harry Nolan may also be given one of the jobs on Werribee’s key forwards.
Forward Billy Kanakis this week signed with Coburg after displaying some great form in the VAFA’s Premier A Division. Kanakis has kicked 45 goals from 15 games and will be a chance to make his VFL debut having been named on the extended bench.
Saturday’s game will also be a slightly different spectacle for spectators with AFL Victoria greenlighting a trial of a couple of rule adjustments. These include an extended goalsquare and a 6-6-6 formation at centre bounce both in an attempt to reduce congestion.
The clash will kick off at 2pm on Saturday and if you are unable to make it to Piranha Park, it will be broadcast live on Channel Seven.
Coburg
B 9.Blair 10.Gregory 36.Guthrie
HB 15.Iacobaccio 43.Nolan 1. Allan
C 17.Dickson 42.Lentini 2.Corigliano
HF 37.Murphy 12.McEvoy 8.Mellington
F 32.Cannolo 18.Lowson 3.Kerbatieh
R 29.Goodwin 5.Exon 33.Weightman
INT From: 16.Fox 23.McDonald 30.O’Donoghue 20.Conn 41.Kovacevic 22.Swierzbiolek 26.Watkins 47.Kanakis
23rd: 24.Bernacki

Werribee

B: 44. J. Henderson, 15. S. Collins, 7. D. McFarlane

HB: 28. M. Brett, 5. N. Coughlan, 35. B. McNamara

C: 12. R.  Barrack, 6. J.  Sharp, 10. J.  Maishman

HF: 29. D. Brew, 9. K. Aylett, 38. K. Gray

F: 25. N. Buykx, 18. J. Porter, 14. A. Hooper

R: 36. J. Berry, 3. M. Sodomaco, 4. T. Gribble

Int: 30. C. Bance, 37. J. Bennett, 23. H. Boyd, 13. J. Cleeland, 31. K. Declase, 2. M. Munro, 27. E. Petterwood, 21. L. Pinnuck

23P: 53. J. Butts