Port Melbourne continued their two and a half year home ground unbeaten run on Saturday as they accounted for Coburg. The hosts romped home to a 55-point victory over Coburg, in the process rising to top spot on the Peter Jackson VFL ladder, as Luke Armstrong reports.
Port Melbourne captain John Baird was playing his 175 VFL match, and his team mates rose to the occasion, toasting his milestone with champagne football. Josh Scipione opened the scoring for the afternoon for the Borough, and it was the first of three unanswered goals for the home side as they quickly raced out to a 23-point lead. Coburg took some good marks across half-back, but were unable to move the ball past the centre often enough in the first term, and by the quarter time siren had only managed one goal, trailing by 17 points.
Hugh Sandilands was solid in defence for the Borough in the first term. Chris Cain was often on the receiving end of his kicks, providing excellent run through the middle. Coburg, however, were indecisive in defence. Eight scoring shots to one told the tale of the first quarter.
An increased level of physicality and zeal for winning the football was displayed by both teams at the start of the second term. Port kicked three of the first four goals of the quarter, but their 29 point lead was soon reduced to 17 as McBean kicked his second and Nick Maric his first to get the visitors back in the contest. Damian Mascitti however got the quick reply, and Port Melbourne was in front by 24 points at half time.
Julian Rowe was left alone in a paddock of space early in the third, and Port Melbourne – as was the case for most of the day – had more time and space to execute. Forward Adrian Bonaddio kicked three goals for the day for Port, and the forward options proved the difference for the home side. Fellow forward Dean Galea had kicked 19 goals coming into the match, and added two to his tally for the season, playing more out of the pocket with Bonaddio out of the goal square.
At the beginning of the last term, Port Melbourne Borough held a 37-point lead, and the general trend of the game continued unabated. Ten behinds were registered in the last quarter, as both sides struggled to find the goals early.
As the quarter progressed, Coburg’s wasteful disposal was made to pay by Port Melbourne, as the home side kicked four of the last five goals of the game to run out 55-point winners.
Port Melbourne travels to Williamstown on Sunday for a top of the ladder clash, and their fans will be heartened by the return from injury of the likes of Shane Valenti, Danny Hughes and Toby Pinwill in the Development League last Saturday.
Coburg this weekend is at home against Bendigo.
Photo: Tony Cannatelli
Last Modified on 27/05/2013 14:01