Round 13 Match ReportBy Glenn Robertson
coburgtigers.com.au
WILLIAMSTOWN v COBURG TIGERS
BURBANK OVAL
SUNDAY 12th JULY
The Burgers travelled down to Burbank Oval on Sunday to take on Williamstown. The Seagulls sat on top of the ladder with ten wins and were clear favourites at home to take out the win. It was a fairly mild day for Burbank Oval although there was still a blustery wind blowing down the ground and both teams used the conditions well to put on a great football exhibition. Although the Burgers won three of the four quarters for the day, it was the miserly first quarter that cost Coburg the match.
Similar to previous weeks the Burgers were slow out of the blocks and down by a sizable margin at the first break. The Seagulls kicked with a strong breeze and were first to the ball, while the Burgers lack of contested football was easily noticeable. Williamstown moved the ball quickly down the guts at every opportunity, while their forwards finished off the good work kicking truly on most occasions. It looked like being a bleak day for the Burgers, down by thirty eight points at quarter time.
Coburg Tigers 3.0 (18) Williamstown 9.2 (56)
After a quarter time spray Coburg came out a more spirited team after quarter time and actually won the remainder of the match by thirty five points.
Cleve Hughes played a solid role at Centre Half Forward holding down the position well taking a bucketful of marks. He kicked well and finished with a game high four majors. Tim Clarke and Mark Coughlan won plenty on contested ball out of the middle and their skill level was a class above, as they pinpointed the Burger forwards.
Although the scoreboard showed Coburg to be down by twenty three points at the main break the boys were looking much more positive and keen to take on the second half.
Coburg Tigers 7.4 (46) Williamstown 11.3 (69)
Coburg were brilliant in the third term holding Williamstown to only three majors while producing five goals themself. The Burgers were up against the best in the competition and were proving they could easily match it, playing a man on man style of football. Graham Polak was close to best on ground in a brilliant display in the ruck. He gave the Burger on-ballers first use of the footy and also took multiple contested marks around the ground. Polak has improved each week and will be close to selection in the Richmond side in the coming weeks.
Coburg went into the final change huddle only down by eleven points.
Coburg Tigers 12.6 (78) Williamstown 14.5 (89)
The final term was one of the highlights of the season. Both teams skill level was at a match high, and the accuracy in goal kicking was outstanding. Joel Bowden showed why he is one of the games greats with his raking long left foot kicks, while Jarrod Silvester was a delight to have back on the team holding down the backline brilliantly, particularly in the second half. The usual work horses in Nic Liddle and Nick Carnell were vital in the final term also, with Carnell producing another three goal game.
After see-sawing goal to goal quarter the Burgers were behind when it mattered most as the final siren sounded.
After a poor first term there were so many positives for coach Craig McRae to take out of today’s game, as the Burgers look forward to taking on Geelong at skilled stadium on Saturday. The game is the curtain raiser to Geelong’s AFL team and begins at 10.40am, while the reserves take on the Casey Scorpions at ABD Group Stadium on Sunday at 2.00pm.
Coburg Tigers 3.0 7.4 12.6 18.8 (116)
Williamstown 9.2 11.3 14.5 19.5 (119)
Goal Kickers: C. Hughes 4, N. Carnell 3, M. Coughlan 2, A. Pattison 2, N. Brown 2, J. Bowden, A. Thomson, J. McMahon, A. Browne, B. Clifton
Best Players: G. Polak, T. Clarke, M. Coughlan, J. Bowden, N. Liddle, J. Silvester
RESERVESThe reserves had their first loss in a month after facing a very strong Williamstown side. The Seagulls sat undefeated on top of the ladder, and it was always going to be a hard fight for the Burgers to have any chance. After an even first quarter when the Burgers had the wind, Williamstown kicked away to a six goal half time lead, and basically it was all over from there. Tamer Abdallah kicked two goals in a fine display and along with Ryan Allen was the Burgers only multiple goal kicker with two a piece, while Hamish Dahl and Nic Wood were also among the Burgers best.
Coburg Tigers 4.4 5.6 6.7 8.10 (58)
Williamstown 4.2 11.5 14.10 21.14 (140)
Goal Kickers: R. Allan 2, T. Abdallah 2, J. De Sousa, R. Jordon, L. McQuilken, J. Horne
Best Players: T. Abdallah, H. Dahl, N. Wood, N. Cattapan, L. McQuilken, D. Putt
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