2nd Semi Final Match Report Vs. Port Melbourne
coburgtigers.com.au
Coburg showed they are the real deal on Sunday with a solid 70 point victory against the Boroughs. A strong four quarter effort saw the Burgers win every quarter, and a lot of positives will be taken into next weeks do or die game against Williamstown.
The ground was in perfect condition, and although there was a slight breeze, goals were easy to come by at either end.
The Burgers kicked with the mild breeze during the first term and built a strong four goal lead and although Port had a couple of little run-ons, the margin never went below the four goal mark for the rest of the match.
Port kicked the first goal of the game in the first two minutes, but that was the last hurrah for them. It took until the 17 minute mark for Coburg to kick their first through Andrew Krakouer, but it opened the flood gates and the Burgers kicked another four goals in very quick time. Logan Hill continued on last weeks fine form to goal, followed by another to Patrick Bowden. Nat Caruso then kicked goal of the day as he intercepted a Port kick near the wing, took a bounce and kicked a bomb from 65m. Matt White and Kelvin Moore were fantastic holding up the backline in the first term, they had 18 touches between them and stopped many Borough forward surges. The Burgers ended the first term 22 points up.
¼ Time: Coburg 5.2 (32) Port Melbourne 1.4 (10)It took only 30 seconds for a Paul Shelton clearance to end in a Jay Schultz goal in the second quarter. Jack Riewoldt then added his first and made it seven in a row for the Burgers. Midway through the term Riewoldt kicked another and set up Cleve Hughes a minute later; Kelvin Moore then ran forward and kicked accurately as Coburg shot out to a 41 point lead. However credit should go to Port Melbourne as they kicked the next few goals and cut the margin back to 22 points at the main break.
Luke McGuane was superb in the backline; his skills were very creative and ran around opponents with ease.
½ Time: Coburg 10.5 (65) Port Melbourne 6.7 (43)Coburg seemed to take the foot off the gas just a little in the third term kicking only two goals, although the backline was again superb allowing Port only a single major. Port full forward David Pitt had a very off target day finishing with 0.6 for the match.
Nat Caruso and Daniel Jackson both lifted in the third term, while Daniel Connors moved forward and kicked a smart goal.
Coburgs back half was strengthened this week with the return of Jarrod Silvester from a hamstring injury. Jarrod has been very solid all year at full back and again held down the defensive role well on Sunday.
¾ Time: Coburg 12.11 (83) Port Melbourne 7.10 (52)Daniel Jackson kicked the first of the final quarter, followed by another freak goal to Andrew Krakouer, that shutout any chance of a Port victory. Krakouer made the most of slender situations all day and ended with four skillful goals for the match.
The Burgers added 9.5 for the quarter and simply blew the Borough away. The Burger players shared the goals around nicely and had twelve contributors on the day. Matt White, Luke McGuane and Kelvin Moore were fantastic in the back half, while Moore also added a couple of screamers and a goal to his usual defensive role. Andrew Krakouer and Jack Rielwoldts defensive pressure in the forward line was superb, while both finished with 4 goals a piece as well.
Paul Shelton and Daniel Jackson dominated around the ground, with Sheltons clearance work excellent, while Jackson marked well and finished with 2 goals.
Coburg now play Williamstown on Sunday at TEAC Oval, Port Melbourne. The game starts at 1:10 and will also be televised live on the ABC, with the winner through to the Grand Final.
The last time the two sides met the Burgers got up by eleven goals, but finals pressure will bring the two teams closer to one another and a great tussle will take place.
Coburg Tigers
5.2 10.5 12.11 21.16 (142)
Port Melbourne
1.4 6.7 7.10 10.12 (72)
Goal Kickers
J. Riewoldt 4, A. Krakouer 4, D. Jackson 2, D. Connors 2, C. Hughes 2, J. Schulz, N. Caruso, P. Bowden, K. Moore, F. Caruso, L. Hill, T. Casserly
Best Players
D. Jackson, M. White, K. Moore, P. Shelton, A. Krakouer, J. Oakley-Nicholls
ReservesAfter a shaky first quarter the Burger reserves kicked twelve goals to three in a spectacular performance that puts them straight into the Grand Final in two weeks time. Leading by 3 goals at three quarter time the Burgers then added another six in the final term to run over the Borough by 45 points. Like the seniors the goals were shared around evenly with twelve burger players chipping in. Myles Sewell, Steven Foster and Damien Rayson were the standouts for the Burgers, but overall it was another fantastic team effort.
The coaching staff and players will now be able to sit back and watch Williamstown and Port Melbourne battle it out on Sunday to see who they will take on in the Grand Final the following week.
Coburg Tigers
4.2 7.10 10.14 16.19 (115)
Port Melbourne
6.1 6.5 7.13 9.16 (70)
Goal Kickers
N. Lynch 2, R. Trajkovski 2, M. Sewell 2, R. Anderson 2, D. Rayson, J. De Sousa, P. Currie, R. Dagher, S. Huy, M. Farrelly, G. Carrick, J. Mullins
Best Players
M. Sewell, S. Foster, D. Rayson, G. Carrick, S. Huy, N. Liddle
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