First Loss At Home
Grant Scott
coburgtigers.com.ay
Coburg Tigers 0.4 1.4 7.5 9.6 (60)
Williamstown 2.2 7.5 10.9 18.14 (122)
In what most Coburg Tiger supporters were hoping would be a welcome return to City Oval after 3 away games in a row, this week’s round instead turned into a day of disappointment for most followers of the Burgers with both the senior and reserve sides falling to the Williamstown Seagulls by 62 and 63 points respectively.
Despite a close struggle the last time the two teams met, the Burger seniors (3rd on the TRUenergy VFL ladder), were outmanned by a well drilled 5th placed Seagull team that had the young Burgers on the back foot for most of the day.
A low scoring first quarter in cold and windy conditions belied the fact the Seagulls were able to gain the majority of the first possession in the early stages of the game, experienced ex-Hawthorn duo Steven Greene and Brett Johnson leading the way for Willy.
Although having a strong wind at their back kicking towards the grand stand end, the Burger boys were only able to register 4 behinds for the first quarter albeit Jeremy Humm and Robert Young working hard, and Luke McGuane providing resistance on the full back line. Goals to David Fanning and Travis Cloke saw the Seagulls hold a 10 point lead at the first quarter.
The second quarter saw the Seagulls make more effective use of the strong breeze than the Burgers had, putting on 5 goals for the quarter to the Burger’s solitary effort - which itself did not come until the 22 minute mark from the boot of Eric Kuret.
Although McGuane was able to control the dangerous Heath Lawry, Tristen Walker was able to step up for the Seagulls and snare 2 for the quarter, whilst Seagull youngsters Adam Iacobucci and Chris Egan were causing problems through the midfield. Along with the stuttering supply, the ordinarily well functioning forward line of the Burgers struggled to cope with the congestion in their half of the ground, Dean “Doggie” Limbach the most likely looking of the forward options.
The half time siren saw a disappointing Burger team trail the Gulls by 37 points.
The major break saw a much more cohesive effort in the 3rd quarter from the Burgers. Richmond ruckman Greg Stafford drifted forward to snare the first goal of the quarter at the 7 minute mark, another coming to Limbach at the 11 minute mark.
Despite the Gulls kicking 3 goals for the quarter themselves, some added drive from Jacob King and Cam Howatt helped engineer 4 unanswered goals in a row within the last 8 minutes of the quarter for the Burgers, the pick of the bunch a 40 meter snap from the boundary by Paul Shelton.
The Burgers’ late flurry of goals gave them a chance at the 3 quarter time break, the deficit reduced to just 22 points
Despite solid contributions from Young, King, Travis Ronaldson and Kelvin Moore, the effort required into the breeze in the last quarter unfortunately proved too much for the Burger Boys. As they had done for much of the day, an overwhelming Williamstown used the eastern side of the ground to slam on another 8 goals for the quarter, Johnson continuing to cause problems by snaring 2 of those, the Burgers falling away to lose by a disappointing 62 points by game’s end.
In spite of 2 successive losses, the Burger seniors still remain entrenched within the final 8 on 28 points and in 5th position on the ladder. The reserves also hold their spot inside the final 5 with 24 points, clinging onto 5th position on the ladder.
Andy and the boys will no doubt be desperate to recapture the form they held prior to the mid season break. To that end, next week’s game looms as a critical match up for the Burger seniors as they take on Tasmania at Aurora Stadium on Saturday night. The reserves have the bye.
Following that, both teams take on Sandringham at Trevor Barker Oval on Sunday, the 23rd of July.
coburgtigers.com.au
