Coburg vs Williamstown match report
coburgtigers.com.au
Coburg kicked an amazing fifteen goals to Williamstowns two in the second half on Sunday to place themselves into their first Grand Final since 1989.
The Seagulls looked the slightly better side during the first half, but after the main break Coburg came out firing!
The Burger seniors now join the reserves in playing off for the premiership on Sunday.
Williamstown were slight favourites going into Sundays match, as they had the previous week off and had the services of Collingwood players such as Broadie Holland, Paul Licuria and Rhyce Shaw. There was a mild breeze blowing across the ground that also slightly favoured the end Coburg kicked to in the first term.
A strong crowd of 3,900 saw ex Eagle player Andrew Williams kick the first major of the day, followed by another to the Seagulls to give them an early lead midway through the first quarter.
Daniel Connors then replied with one of the goals of the season as he ran around two Willy players, had a couple of bounces and drilled it from 40m on a tightish angle. It lifted the Burger boys, as a minute later Shultz passed to Krakouer and he converted to level the scores.
At quarter time an inaccurate Coburg side lead in almost every department, apart from on the scoreboard. The Burgers had six more inside 50’s, but trailed on the scoreboard by eight points at the first change.
Al Neville was everywhere in the first term collecting 10 touches for the quarter, while Andrew Horne provided great run out of defence.
¼ Time: Coburg 2.5 (17) Williamstown 4.1 (25)
Williamstown looked the goods during the second quarter. They kicked four of the first five goals of the term to stretch their lead out to 24 points.
Ordinary field and goal kicking by the Coburg players contributed to the Seagulls success during the quarter, while the Williamstown players also kicked accurately and were much cleaner with their disposals.
After missing two kickable goals in the space of a few minutes, Andrew Krakouer kicked accurately the third time to boot his second for the game. Jay Schultz then slotted a goal after the siren from 50m that really lifted the Burger spirits and gave them confidence and spark going into halftime.
Kelvin Moore was continuing on from last weeks excellent form, and was again was very solid in the backline, while Natale Caruso and Captain Travis Ronaldson were combining well in the ruck.
½ Time: Coburg 5.9 (39) Williamstown 9.3 (57)
Travis Ronaldson kicked the perfect captains goal after only a minute in the third term, and importantly kept the momentum with the Burgers. Jack Riewoldt then dribbled a stuff goal from the boundary and Fort Caruso snagged another only a minute later, to level the scores. Fort’s third quarter was one of the best individual quarters for the year, as he provided the spark and determination that was missing form the Burgers in the first half.
Nick Carnell slotted nicely into the half forward line and kicked two goals for the term, followed by majors to Jo Gazzo and another to Riewoldt.
The Burgers turned a three goal deficit into a four goal lead at the last change, as they slotted 7 goals for the term and kept the Seagulls goalless.
Fort Caruso, Nick Carnell and Jo Gazzo were the major sparks in the turnaround, along with Trav in the ruck and Matt White in the back pocket, but overall it was a great team performance.
¾ Time: Coburg 12.12 (84) Williamstown 9.6 (60)
A poor kicking error gave Williamstown an easy goal at the beginning of the final quarter, and it could have switched the momentum. The Seagulls continued to have possession for the first 5-6 minutes of the last term, but couldn’t convert it into any more goals.
Schultz and Connors then kicked goals within the space of thirty seconds to really shut out any hope of a Seagull comeback. It was then party time for the Burgers, as they kicked eight consecutive goals during the final term. Al Neville capped of a fantastic game, with a running goal, while Riewoldt added a couple more for the quarter to finish with four for the match. Andrew Krakouer, Nat Caruso and Andrew Horne all added goals to their great days work, and celebrated in style.
Daniel Jackson played a fantastic tough game off the wing, as the big man pushed back to take marks and give the backline a chop out, while also providing the forwards with first class delivery. Paul Shelton’s work rate was second to none, as he won many hardball gets and clearances in and under the packs.
Matt White, Jarrod Sylvester and Kelvin Moore held the backline up extremely well in the second half, conceding only two goals, while Al Neville continued on a fantastic year and received the ABC’s man of the match award collecting 25 touches.
The Burgers now face Geelong on Sunday in the Grand Final starting at 2.15pm at MC Labour Park. The game will be televised live on the ABC.
After having a week off the reserves play Port Melbourne starting at 11.00am.
The last time both the Reserves and Seniors won Grand Finals in the same year was 1974. Let’s hope history can be re-written and both teams bring home the flags!!!!!!!!
Coburg Tigers
2.5 5.9 12.12 20.17 (137)
Williamstown
4.1 9.3 9.6 11.10 (76)
Best Players
D. Jackson, A. Neville, T. Ronaldson, M. White, K. Moore, P. Shelton
Goal Kickers
J. Riewoldt 4, A. Krakouer 3, D. Connors 2, J. Schulz 2, N. Carnell 2, N. Caruso, P. Bowden, A. Neville, A. Horne, F. Caruso, J. Gazzo, T. Ronaldson
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