Preview: Coburg Tigers vs Werribee TigersVFL websiteIt will be a battle of Tigers versus Tigers at Mantello Holden Oval on Saturday as Coburg and Werribee look to continue their promising starts to the season, as Adem Saricaoglu previews the game.
Coburg’s talls up forward caused havoc last week against the Hawks, with the Tigers managing to hold their slight lead for all of the last quarter in a hard-fought contest.
With a percentage 15 per cent better than fourth-placed Casey, Coburg can possibly jump into the top four if it can knock off Werribee.
With Coburg down to two on the bench for much of the second half against the Hawks, coach Adam Potter said this week has been about managing his players’ recovery.
“It’s been a good week. We’ve managed our loading to prepare for Werribee and made sure our guys are up for the game,” Potter said.
Potter then said his side needs to be wary of Werribee’s long list of AFL experienced players.
“They’re a very good side and they do have a lot of experience with North Melbourne not having many injuries at the moment.
“It will be a really physical contest and we have to match it with their midfielders, with (Sam) Gibson and (Travis) Tuck especially.
“Our work rate needs to be high to be able to beat them.”
Werribee currently sits in eighth place and will be looking to bounce back after narrowly going down to its western rival, Williamstown, by seven points last week.
The Tigers were wasteful against the Seagulls, relinquishing a 39-point quarter time lead to go down in a high scoring affair at Avalon Airport Oval.
Coach Scott West said his team is expecting to bounce back after reviewing the Williamstown game.
“Any time you lose it’s a tough week but each week you get another chance to make up for it,” West said.
Saturday’s forecast for more showers after what’s already been a soggy week in Melbourne will test both sides, and West said he is expecting it to be a tough slog.
“We know they’ll be competitive and there’ll be a lot of contested footy, especially on such a small ground that’ll probably be wet,” he said.
“Around the stoppages and those sorts of things will be important as well as getting it inside 50 to kick a winning score.
“It’s a very even competition and we know it will be tough game.”
The game kicks off at 2pm.
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