Williamstown v Coburg Tigers preview
VFL Record
Coburg favoured to win through to 2007 decider.The Coburg Tigers can keep alive their quest to win the club’s first premiership in 18 years at the expense of Williamstown in this week’s preliminary final.
There is much to like about Coburg, which thrashed Williamstown in the clubs’ only meeting back in round 14. While the Seagulls were without captain Brett Johnson and Paul Licuria, their best player in the qualifying final win against Sandringham, they still need to turn around an 11-goal defeat.
Coburg has retained nine Richmond players from that match – Jack Riewoldt, Andrew Krakouer, Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls, Cleve Hughes, Matt White, Travis Casserly, Luke McGuane, Kelvin Moore and Patrick Bowden. Kent Kingsley, who kicked five goals in that game, ruckman Angus Graham and Danny Meyer will be missing from the Tigers’ team, but this is more than offset by the addition of Daniel Jackson, Jay Schulz and Daniel Connors. Jackson was simply outstanding against Port Melbourne, nullifying the impact of dual Liston Trophy winner David Robbins as well as making an important contribution himself.
This weekend, Coburg coach Andy Collins is likely to assign Jackson the important role of restricting Licuria’s input, should the Collingwood veteran take the field.
The Seagulls must limit Andrew Krakouer, who not only can kick bags of goals, but also set many others up. Quelling his influence may be a job for Brodie Holland or Sam Iles, who was a fine player against Sandringham.
However, the Tigers’ forward structure goes much deeper than Schulz and Krakouer. Riewoldt, Hughes and Connors are all marking targets who can punish
opposition teams.
Much of Williamstown’s fortunes will depend on how Shannon Cox, Nathan Brown, Ryan Cook and Ryan Lonie perform.
Williamstown’s strength is clearly its midfield. Skipper Johnson is backed by Ben Davies, a star against Sandringham, and, of course, Licuria. Davies has a big motor, runs and carries the ball and fi nishes well, and it will be interesting to see who Collins selects to play on him. Holland, meanwhile, is a proven big-game player. He knows where to run, how to gain possession and use the ball
to advantage, and is very good at stifling an opponent.
Coburg will rely on Alister Neville, Fortunato Caruso, Matt White and Paul Shelton, all very good last week, to outpoint Williamstown’s midfield.
Seagull forward Andrew Williams showed his wealth of experience against Sandringham with his strong leading, marking and accurate kicking. Williams headlines an attack that at times this season has been non-existent, and
Williamstown needs the likes of Liam Picken, Patrick Rose and Ben Reid to continue to play well.
Another pivotal dual is the ruck contest between Coburg Tigers captain Travis Ronaldson, coming off a career-best year, and Williamstown’s Scott Meyer.
Williamstown will unquestionably improve on its round 14 loss, but
this may be not enough to stop the Coburg Tigers.
http://vfl.footballvic.com.au/_content/document/00056135-src.pdf
