By Sarah Manton
Port Melbourne was never headed against Coburg, running out 45-point winners at TEAC Oval on Saturday.
How could you fault Port Melbourne today, the Borough were inspirational: courage, determination and dedication, they were undoubtedly the better team on the day. Ladder positions did not mean a thing, there was one team who came out to prove themselves and another who succeeded at being mediocre. Not an AFL affiliated team, but without a doubt the Port boys showed more passion and the 45-point win was more than deserved.
In blustering conditions, Port came to play. There was one team more determined to win and the scoreboard reflected that, with Port winning every quarter. One has to feel for Craig McCrae, in the shadow of Jade Rawlings he may tonight be disappointed with his boys, but the juggernaut today was the Borough. Listed Richmond players were prominent in possessions for Coburg, but questionable in their effectiveness. Port epitomized team work.
In a scrappy yet aggressive first quarter, the Borough jumped out of the blocks with four goals to one. Port veteran Ryan McMahon was knocked heavily and stretchered off. While Coburg went the man, the Borough played the ball and skipped away to a handy buffer. Port Melbourne coach Gary Ayres further praised and inspired his team, acknowledging their defensive work he stated; “swoop on them, but don’t linger in the tackle. Our tackling pressure is terrific”.
“Sacrifice your role to give what the team wants, “said Ayres.
The early intensity of Coburg seemed to once again disintegrate in the second quarter, particularly after David Pitt and David Robbins decided to increase the Boroughs lead early in the second quarter. It was however Deluca who started to make a huge impression from here until the end. At half time and with a lead of 38 points, the Borough was in total control.
David Pitt, Adrian Deluca, Patrick Hassett, Stephen Brewer and Robbins were all exceptional in the remaining half, and despite the best efforts of the Coburg Tigers the Port team went into the final quarter with a 41-point lead.
Coburg's Joel Bowden and Jordan McMahon fought hard in the last, but it was the Borough’s game. The Port boys admire and respect their coach, and it shows, the Borough, now third, they relegated Coburg to seventh.
Robbins was a livewire up forward with four goals and was particularly damaging in the second term. The Tigers were best served by Mark Coughlan with 21 touches and Jake King 18 touches.
Port Melbourne 4.4 10.6 13.9 18.14 (122)
| Coburg Tigers 1.3 4.4 7.4 12.5 (77)
GOALS:Port Melbourne: Robbins 4 Pitt 3 Cain 3 Pinwill 2 Mullins Dwyer McLaren Deluca Smith Hassett
Coburg Tigers: Clarke 3 Schulz 3 Horne 2 Bowden Browne Caruso Carrick
BEST:Port Melbourne: Dwyer Pinwill Robbins Smith Cain Deluca
Coburg Tigers: Clarke Bowden Carnell Silvester King Coughlan
REPORTED PLAYERS:Port Melbourne: Nil
Coburg Tigers: Nil
Last Modified on 20/06/2009 22:32