The Coburg Tigers left their best till last in the AFL Victoria Development League Grand Final, kicking five of the last six goals of the game to claim the 2012 premiership. The close contest saw the lead never progress past 19 points throughout the afternoon, and it was the Box Hill Hawks – aiming for their fourth Development League premiership in a row – that held the lead for the majority of the second half. However they were unable to contain the Tigers late in the final term as they saw a 19 point lead 13 minutes into the final term eroded into a seven point deficit and premiership defeat.
Coburg drew first blood in the Grand Final in a low scoring first term. Only three goals were scored in the opening stanza as the Tigers led at quarter time by six points.
The second term was in total contrast to the first, with 12 goals scored for the quarter, as both teams shared the lead. Despite Box Hill levelling the scores early in the term through Sam Cust, the Tigers quickly raced to an 18 point lead as eventual Fred Hill Medallist Ozgur Uysal kicked his first, followed by two goals to the Development League leading goal kicker Rowan Hore.
Just as quickly as quickly as the Tigers took the lead, they soon found themselves trailing for the first time in the game as Box Hill made the most of pushing the ball forward with goals to Ben Monkhurst, Daniel Cooper and Dalton Graham, and 11 minutes in they were up by a point.
Hore wasted no time in returning Coburg to the lead, but Box Hill went into half time with a 17 point lead, finishing the term with their second three goal run of the game.
The third term went goal for goal early until the Coburg forwards start showing their marking prowess, with Hore adding his fourth and Uysal adding his second to reduce the margin to just one straight kick 14 minutes into the quarter. Late goals to Max Otten and Cooper ensured the Hawks would go into the final term with a 14 point lead, and their fourth premiership in a row was within their reach.
But Coburg had other thoughts, and Hore quickly added his fifth to get his side within seven points. For the next 10 minutes the game went into lock down, as neither team could find the goals. It took till the 12 minute mark for Jason Salopek to kick the Hawks first of the term, and he followed it up soon after with his second to give the reigning premiers some breathing space with a 19 point lead.
Coburg then went about dismantling the Hawks premiership hopes as they gained the momentum and went on a four goal run in just over 5 minutes. Goals to Uysal, Nick Maric, Rhett Jordan and a lead stealing goal from Maric with his second placed doubt in the Hawks mind of another premiership flag. The doubt was intensified when best on ground Uysal started engraving his name on the medal with his fourth to give Coburg a 12 point lead 29 minutes into the final term.
The game seemed over, but the time clocked opened another opportunity for the Hawsk as they reduced the margin to just seven points at the 35 minute mark, but the siren would soon sound, and Coburg would be announced the 2012 AFL Victoria Development League premiers.
2012 AFL Vic Development League Grand Final
Coburg Tigers 2.3 6.6 10.10 16.12 (108)
Box Hill Hawks 1.3 9.5 12.11 15.11 (101)
GOALS:
Coburg Tigers: Hore 5 Uysal 4 Younan 3 Maric 2 Jordan Linton
Box Hill Hawks: Cooper 3 Cust 2 Otten 2 Salopek 2 Graham 2 Monkhorst Johnson Grimley Johns
BEST:
Coburg Tigers: Uysal Hore Cartelli Jordan Maric Bamblett
Box Hill Hawks: Wood Graham Wilsen Miles Post Lawlor
Fred Hill Medallist: Ozgur Uysal (Coburg Tigers)
Photo: Dave Savell
Last Modified on 20/09/2012 02:26