|
¼ time
|
½ time
|
¾ time
|
Full Time
|
Northern
|
1.1.7
|
3.3.21
|
5.11.41
|
9.15.69
|
Coburg
|
2.0.12
|
6.3.39
|
10.5.65
|
12.6.78
|
Best: Featherstone, Cooper, Uysal, Sturgess, Fairbairn, Hartley
Goals: Featherstone 3, Cooper 2, Venditti 2, Z.Saad, Anderson, Christensen, Uysal, Sortino
That Winning Feeling.
Lech Featherstone’s three majors broke the game open and led the Coburg Lions to an historic 9-point win in the 150th edition of the ‘Battle of Bell St’ against the Northern Blues.
Coburg never let their early lead slip and controlled proceedings at Preston City Oval and grabbed their first victory of 2014, the first of the new Lions’ era.
The Lions were boosted with the return of big men to the their line-up with promising ruckman Ben Sortino along with key defenders Jonathan Proud and Matt Fairbairn returning to the senior side and this played a key role in protecting the last line of defence and keeping the Blues at bay.
Featherstone got proceedings underway with the first goal from 40 metres out on a difficult angle.
The game was scrappy early on and a moment of poise from young Calder Cannons’ player Aaron Christensen on debut gifted his first goal of senior VFL football much to the delight of his new teammates.
The message at quarter time was encouraging from coach Peter German. He was impressed with the forward structure, which for most of this season had appeared to be the Achilles’ heel of the Coburg game plan.
It wouldn’t be today though, as Coburg rallied to kick four consecutive goals from a wide range of sources, including a collector’s item from Sortino to open up a match high 31-point lead.
The consistent messages of “positive signs” for weeks on end became positive results and the Lions were gaining momentum.
It nearly began to slip away as Coburg gave away two red time goals that had German and the coaching staff infuriated as the Lions’ lead was cut to 3 goals.
It was a half owned by Lech Featherstone whose three goals and 12 possessions in 40 minutes of football caused Matthew Watson all sorts of problems.
“We moved the ball quickly and efficiently, which has been the focus for us and I was able to finish off” Featherstone said.
The rain came down hard during the break and any result could’ve happened from there. To the Lions’ credit, they didn’t show any signs of weakness and booted 4 goals to 2 in the third term and showed more grit and tenacity than the Northern players.
The three-quarter-time break was the perfect setting for German. For the first time this season, he felt in control of his troops and everything he was delivering was paying dividends.
The Blues came out firing for the final period as they hoped to salvage something from the game. Carlton-listed players Patrick Cripps and Dennis Armfield kicked a goal each in a two-minute span early in the last quarter and tremors of concern flowed through the Coburg support.
But the young Lions knew they were due for a special victory, and a great passage of play set up vice-captain Daniel Venditti for a goal to create some breathing space as Coburg were aiming to hold on to a slender lead.
Northern had one last roll of the dice with a Cripps kicking his third of the game, but eventually time waned out and the Lions recorded a victory for the ages.
Andrew Sturgess led all Coburg players with 26 possessions, 6 tackles and 7 clearances to cap off a superb return after he succumbed to injury last week in the first quarter.
Daniel Venditti, Ozgur Uysal and Adam Saad were their usual reliable selves, but leaders Nick Carnell and Ben Clifton must be given credit for lifting the young Lions into a game winning performance.
Nick Robortella (20 disposals, 4 tackles), Nathan Blair (19 disposals, 3 spoils) and Calder Cannons’ youngster Aaron Christensen (14 disposals, 2 smothers) were among the talent that stood tall amongst the bigger bodies of the Blues.
These are just a few names of the entire squad who delivered on their end of the bargain when they signed on to play for Coburg. The whole team can take pride in their performance, and now their supporters can too.
Yes, we heard those Lions roar.
Jason De Vincentis (Twitter: JasonDVincentis)
Last Modified on 04/05/2014 16:24