|
¼time
|
½ time
|
¾ time
|
Full Time
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Coburg
|
2.2.14
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5.3.33
|
5.3.34
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10.9.69
|
Box Hill
|
5.6.36
|
9.11.65
|
16.15.111
|
17.19.121
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Best: Venditti, Thomas, Featherstone, A.Saad, Blair, McConnell
Goals: Featherstone 3, Z.Saad 2, Thomas, Venditti, Madden, Younan, D.Cooper
A classy Box Hill outfit led by Luke Lowden up forward was too much to handle for the lowly placed Lions as they succumbed to a 52-point loss at Piranha Park on Saturday.
The Hawks controlled possession early on and kicked away in the third quarter before a late Coburg surge in the last quarter was merely consolation for the Lions who now sit 0-4.
Serenity echoed throughout Piranha Park Saturday as the Last Post was played to the players and crowd. Thoughts and memories of fallen heroes were amongst the feelings of both sets of players as they prepared to do battle just like the ANZACs 99 years ago.
If that didn’t stir up the players than nothing would. Both sides were ready to go and we were in for a hard fought ANZAC weekend game.
The early moments saw Box Hill composed down back and avert any Coburg attack and counter with the likes of David Mirra and Alex Woodward off halfback.
Debutant Joel Madden managed to kick the first goal of Coburg’s afternoon from 35 metres out and got the Lions into a groove to sustain until quarter time.
But once again their Achilles heel surfaced and red time goals were conceded and Box Hill had opened up a 22-point lead at quarter time.
Coburg’s three half-back flankers had were the highest possession getters in the first quarter, with Nick Robortella, Adam Saad and Tom Ellard combining for 19 touches, proving that the Lions were under pressure in their defensive 50 and couldn’t move the ball forward with ease.
An early injury to rising midfielder Andrew Sturgess left the side down on rotations and midfield run and it was an uphill battle from there.
It was a sign of bad things to come as it proved transition play was going to be hard to come by against the sound Box Hill defence.
But when the Hawks weren’t pressuring Coburg, careless turnovers from traditional good users of the ball cost Coburg dearly. Luke Lowden was causing all sorts of problems up forward for the Lions and the margin had been stretched out to 36 points midway through the second term.
Two goals in two minutes to Daniel Cooper and Zak Saad cut the margin to 25 just before the half and the Lions were persisting with the Hawks and were desperate not to let the game get away from them heading into the break.
After half-time, the reigning premiers upped their game. They burst out of the blocks and piled on 7 unanswered goals to 0 for the third quarter.
It was a matter of the young Burgers being outworked by the bigger-bodied, experienced Hawks led in the midfield by Sam Iles, Brandon Wood and Ben Ross amongst others.
The Lions lost the disposal count for the quarter 117-63 and were also heavily being beaten in uncontested marks.
Whilst their may have a bit of complacency on Box Hill’s part, the Lions responded to Peter German’s ¾ time address and moved the ball well in the last quarter to kick the first 5 goals.
Midfielders spread and pushed forward and goals came from Nathan Thomas (24 possessions) and Daniel Venditti (32 possesions) to make the final margin a little more respectable.
“Pleasing signs at the end when the game opened up, but against good sides you need to concentrate for four quarters.” Venditti said.
In the end the Hawks put the cue in the rack and taught a lesson to Coburg winning 17.19.121 to 10.9.69.
“You look at the size, and the talent and its always going to be tough.” Venditti commented.
A positive was the clearance count, which Coburg only lost by 2, yet the forward structure will need to understand how to turn clearances into effective forward 50 possessions.
The biggest problem for the Lions still appears to be their focus towards the gameplan. Too often this season, they have conceded goals in time on and the opposition’s two goal lead becomes four or five and that kills confidence at momentum heading into a break.
Coburg next week will be up against the Northern Blues at Preston City Oval at 1:00PM and will be the featured game of the week on ABC’s VFL coverage.
Jason De Vincentis (Twitter @JasonDVincentis)
Last Modified on 28/04/2014 14:53