Tigers Tame Tigers
Grant Scott
30 April 2006
Round 4
Coburg Tigers 3.0 4.5 8.10 11.14 (80)
Werribee 4.3 5.5 10.7 10.9 (69)
With both sides holding an opportunity to even up their records to 2 wins and 2 losses for the season, the match up between Coburg and Werribee at a soggy City Oval was always going to be a titanic struggle. But it was the Burger boys with their overall persistency and an irrepressible last quarter that eventually saw them run out 11 point winners and leave victorious Burger fans in raptures after the final siren.
Despite heavy rainfall beforehand, and continuous drizzle for the duration, the game was played at a good standard throughout. Not a day for the big fellas, the conditions demanded a high level of physical application at ground level, and it was a number of Coburg’s small to medium sized players creating an advantage in this department that ultimately provided the impetus for a fantastic Burger win.
An injury to Cam ‘House’ Howat saw him unable to take his place in the final side with highly skilled youngster and ex- Eastern Ranges rover/forward Dom Di Mascio making his senior debut.
The start to the first quarter was a battle of wills with Matthew White kicking the first goal of the match via a running shot on goal. As the quarter wore on, despite the Burgers winning much of the ball across the ground, the Coburg talls were being stretched in their ability to get back and fill the defensive hole - which was leaving young full back Luke McGuane one out on many occasions with the experienced Werribee full forward, James Podsiadly. A goal to Eric Kuret after a fantastic Jonno Mullins mark, then another just before the siren from Daniel Jackson, saw the Burgers trail the Bees by 9 points at quarter time. Already however, the ground level work of the likes of Jeremy Humm, Matthew White, Nick Carnell, Dean Polo and Jacob King was paying dividends.
The second quarter was one of lost opportunities for the hard working Burger boys. The half back line lead by some fantastic work by Polo and King was resilient, and the move by coach Andy Collins to put young Danny Meyer to centre half forward and allow Adam Pattison to push up the ground created more space up forward. However, Kuret’s second goal for the game was the only major that accompanied a further 5 behinds for the quarter. Subsequently, the Burger boys went into the half time break trailing by 5 points – the umpires making their contribution to the result with a free kick count of 21 to 8 against the Burgers.
The second half was the beginning of what would ultimately become the “Jonno Mullins Show.” Despite 2 goals in the third quarter from ex- Collingwood player Tom Davidson, one each to Podsiadly, ex- Lion Travis Baird and a dubious goal to Salim Hassan in the goal square, Jonno hit back with 2 of his own - one a freakish left foot dibbler off the left forward pocket boundary line at the grandstand end of the ground. Another goal from Jackson, and a fantastic hard ball goal from Carnell saw the Burgers stay within 9 points at 3 quarter time. The Burgers continued to let themselves down with missed opportunities and poor decision making in the forward line, however. But tireless work from Polo, White, Humm, King and Alistair Neville ensured the Burgers were still right in the game.
A plea from Andy Collins at 3 quarter time to get one out on the forward line as much as possible in order to take better advantage of the Burgers greater ball winning capacity paid off in the final quarter. Jonno Mullins snapped his 3rd for the match at the 7 minute mark of the quarter to put the Burgers just 4 points behind. A Carnell - to Meyer - to Mullins goal 3 minutes later put the Burgers in front for the first time since the 5 minute mark of the first quarter. A further 3 minutes later and Jonno Mullins had kicked his 5th goal for the match with an off the ground goal in the goal square. The Burgers were now 7 points in front.
The Burgers were looking tough to beat. Paul Shelton and McGuane were now coming into their own in the backline and Trent Knobel was dropping into the hole regularly. Young second gamers Sam Robertson and Shaun Huy showed the desperation typified by many a Calder Cannons side, with Robertson’s tackle upon tackle effort in front of the interchange thoroughly inspiring the crowd. In the end it was this greater commitment and hard nosed work rate in the slippery conditions that would see the Burgers extend their lead to 11 points, and run out the winners by that margin.
Despite their youth and inexperience having the pundits regularly tip against them, Coburg now move well and truly into the 8 after today’s gutsy win. Even their two losses have been tight affairs.
If you’re a follower of the Burgers (or Richmond), or even if you just like to watch a good game of footy, then get yourself along to a Coburg Tigers game. Better still, become a member. They’re young and they’re learning, but they’re tough…they’re talented… and under Andy Collins you can feel a strong under-current of intensity and motivation is developing within this Burger side.
Get behind them and don’t miss out on it!
Well done guys.
http://coburgtigers.com.au/
