Coburg's new generation will need to be ready to step up in 2016 after the off-season departure of a trio of club stalwarts.
Coach: Peter German (third year)
2015 finish: 12th
2015 best and fairest placings: 1. Michael Hartley and Daniel Venditti / 3. Ozgur Uysal
2015 leading goalkicker: Daniel Younan (24)
Last premiership: 1989
Alignment: VFL standalone
The Lions went agonisingly close to securing a first finals berth since 2008 last year, with a loss to the Casey Scorpions in the penultimate round ending their bid for September action. On the positive side, Coburg produced a second AFL draftee in two years with key defender Michael Hartley selected by Essendon, while a core group of talented young players continued to develop their games.
The new generation will now be thrust into the limelight, with seven-year club captain Nick Carnell, three-time best and fairest winner Daniel Venditti and midfield stalwart Ben Clifton departing Piranha Park over the off-season. Cale Morton’s move back to local football will also create a hole in the midfield.
Despite boasting those names, Peter German’s team struggled to find the ball in 2015, ranking in the bottom five clubs for most offensive statistical measures. When the Lions did move it inside 50 they lacked the firepower to capitalise, ranked ahead of only Frankston for points scored. The recruitment of 33-game AFL goalsneak Ahmed Saad and VAFA forward Jake Lew – who kicked 69 goals in 17 games last year – should go some way to rectifying the problem.
Coburg’s strength is its work without the ball, ranking third in the competition for tackles per game in 2015. The loss of hardened bodies in the midfield therefore needs to be covered by the likes of rising star Ozgur Uysal, while Northern Football League midfielder Adam Valeri will add grunt in the engine room along with Michael Ercolano – who finished third in last year’s Northern Knights best and fairest count behind AFL draftees Jade Gresham and Brayden Fiorini.
As for the void left in defence by Michael Hartley’s drafting, the signing of 2015 VAFA Team of the Year centre half back Simon Caven is important, as is the addition of Eastern Football League stopper Kyle Staples. The club’s strong connection with the Calder Cannons also sees nine of their TAC Cup graduates join the list.
INS & OUTS:
Ins: Jake Lew (Ajax), Rhys Free, Jesse Muscatello (Bendigo Pioneers), Peter McEvoy (Box Hill Hawks), Mitch Conn, Josh Flower, Jack James, Mark Kovacevic, Cameron McRorie, George Romios, Matthew Stillman, Dylan Tarczon, Zak Wunhym (Calder Cannons), Dylan McDonald (Murray Bushrangers), Garrett McDonagh (Northern Blues), Michael Ercolano, Matthew Mattingly (Northern Knights), Simon Caven (St Bernard’s), Ahmed Saad (St Kilda), Kyle Staples (Vermont), Jaycob Hickey (Western Jets), Adam Valeri (West Preston-Lakeside), Matthew Merlo (Williamstown)
Outs: Nick Carnell (retired), Ben Clifton (retired), Daniel Venditti (work), Cale Morton (Diggers Rest), Michael Hartley (Essendon AFL), Charlie Van Der Byl (Maribyrnong Park), Tom Miles (Mitcham), Michael Tang (Port Melbourne), Jack Yelland (West Coburg), Damon Symes (Yarrawonga)
* Photo: Daniel Younan (right) celebrates a goal for Coburg in 2015
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Last Modified on 31/03/2016 09:01