If there is one team Frankston fans look forward to playing each year over the last two seasons, it is when they are drawn to play Coburg Tigers. Why? Well Coburg has been the only side the Dolphins have defeated over the last two years.
Despite their ladder positions and form over recent years, Coburg has struggled against the Dolphins, especially at Frankston Oval. The last time Coburg won at Frankston was round 10, 2006.
Fast forward to 2012, and Frankston have been competitive in their opening four matches of the season, leading at various changes in the first half. But their inability to keep with their opponents in the second half, or see a lead at three quarter time in their favour, has been their downfall.
Frankston coach Simon Goosey has enjoyed the improvement from his side this year, but would still like to experience their first win of the season.
“Look we’ve improved the list with a lot more depth and we’ve played some really good competitive football without getting the 4 points.
“Out of 16 quarters we’ve played 12 quarters that we could be satisfied with,” Goosey said.
Playing the team that they have had their most recent success against, Goosey is not going in over confident.
“The facts are we lost to them in our practice match, we’ve just got to make sure that we match them in effort.”
Coburg will be still enjoying their upset win over Sandringham in round 3, and will be hoping to finally overcome the Dolphins on their home patch, ending their 6 year drought.
“We were very pleased with this result,” Coburg coach Adam Potter said.
“Sandringham has performed well throughout the pre-season and during the early rounds of the season. We planned well and had a real focus on matching the work of their mids.
“In particular Cockie, Cook and Curren who have been very good. We were very good in some key areas including contested ball and limiting their uncontested possession.
“We played with structure and intensity and this also went along way to assisting us in winning the game. “
Facing a team that has had the wood on them in recent years, Potter believes despite the good win against Sandringham, the Tigers need to be on their game to win their first game at Frankston Oval since 2006.
“ I think the competition has been very even to date and Frankston have been very close to winning games, we have had a difficult time against them over the last two years.
“As a coaching group we will make sure we are well planned and look closely at what they have been doing over the early part of the season. We have gained confidence from the first 3 rounds and will approach this contest ensuring our players are fully aware of what is expected.”
After the loss of Russ Gabriel in the off season, one of the key match up this weekend will be in the middle, with Coburg having enjoyed having the likes of Andrew Browne and Angus Graham holding down their ruck stocks. Goosey believes his young ruck stocks will have a big test this weekend.
“Losing big Russ has left a huge hole but at the same time it has given young Antony Forato a opportunity and he hasn’t let us down, as a first year VFL player 19yrs old to play in the ruck and compete the way he has so far, he’s got a huge future,” Goosey said.
“ Angus Graham (although selected for Richmond) and Andrew Browne will come up against Antony, Khan Haretuku and James Orr might come into the side for his first game and has a tremendous leap on him so I’m more than confident in the way our boys will be able to compete.”
Last Modified on 20/04/2012 16:43