Coburg fightback

by AJ BRADY

IN the first weekend of round five action in the Victorian Football League for season 2008, the 3SER 97.7FM Casey Radio team saw Coburg fight back to defeat a gallant Box Hill Hawks by 12 points at ABD Group Stadium, Coburg, on ANZAC Day.

The now-traditional ANZAC Day clash between these two sides this year saw the awarding of the Gibbs-Lines Medal for the best voted best-on-ground.

The medal was named after two stalwarts of each club, both of whom had history serving in the military during wartime.

While the sky was somewhat overcast, the weather was quite warm, around 25C, and with no reserves game preceding the main game, the crowd was late arriving.

However, yet again for this ANZAC clash, the crowd ended up turning up in good numbers, with approximately 3500 in attendance by the first bounce.

Coming into the game, the Tigers were desperate for a victory, having dropped their past three games, two of them by three points and one point respectively.

For Box Hill, a new head coach in Barry Mitchell, and vastly-altered playing line-up from last season's poor outfit hadn't seemed to make much difference, with the Hawks having dropped their first four games, including an 88-point home smashing against Sandringham the previous week.

A good omen for the Hawks was the coin toss, when former Coburg star Alister Neville returned to his old stomping ground as Box Hill captain and chose to kick with a slight breeze heading towards the Harding Street end.

The breeze was worth about two goals, and the Hawks seemed to make the most of it early.

With the Hawks ball-carriers sharing the load well through the middle, and youngster Jarryd Morton (eight disposals) roaming far and free across the half-forward flank, Box Hill managed to put some early scoreboard pressure on the Tigers.

Also doing damage around the wings and in the midfield were Hawthorn-listed players Josh Kennedy (four disposals, two clearances) and Tim Clarke (four disposals, three clearances), whilst Neville was also providing a nuisance at the stoppages.

Coburg rallied late in the term, but were still two goals in arrears at the first change.

The Tigers got good early service from the controversially-dropped Joel Bowden (11 possessions), along with Jarrad Oakley-Nicholls (eight disposals) and Daniel Jackson (nine disposals), who were all pushing forward of centre.

At the first break, Box Hill coach Mitchell urged his troops to be accountable for their men, and not to panic if the Tigers scored a couple of quick goals. Heading from the huddle, Mitchell told Casey Radio recruit Phil Cleary that he was pleased with his charges' first-term efforts, and now was the time to put into practice the defensive pressure they had been working on at training.

With the advantage of a slight breeze behind their backs, the Tigers were expected to streak away during the second term.

However, it didn't happen, as creative midfielder Nathan Batsanis (eight disposals) starting providing run through the midfield for the Hawks, along with solid contributions from Kennedy (eight disposals) and Lukas Markovic (nine disposals).

The Tigers were getting good service from ruckman Tristan Cartledge, who to half-time had the staggering number of 24 hit-outs, and with veteran Richmond-listed player Greg Tivendale (eight disposals) starting to get into the game, helped by Oakley-Nicholls (six disposals), it was surprising that the Tigers were still 15 points down at the major break.

During half-time, Cleary spoke with Richmond coach Terry Wallace, watching his VFL affiliate. Wallace spoke of the great relaxed atmosphere at the VFL, and how he was enjoying watching players such as Tivendale, Bowden and Oakley-Nicholls work hard to gain promotion to the Richmond side.

Also during the half-time break, the Casey Radio team spoke with Tigers General Manager Ryan O'Connor, who spoke of how hard the Tigers worked in the off-season to try and redress their runners-up finish in season 2007, and how new coach Jade Rawlings had instantly gained the respect of the players through his confident, attacking game-plan.

The game tightened up somewhat during the third term, with a lot more stoppages and much scrappier play.

Coburg managed to score two goals to one for the term against the breeze, thanks to some strong midfield work from Tivendale (seven disposals), Bowden (seven disposals), Oakley-Nicholls (eight disposals) and the unheralded Nick Liddle, who gathered 11 touches for the term.

With Box Hill leading by just 10 points at the final change, the scene was set for a grandstand finish.

During the third term, the Hawks got good purchase from Markovic (six disposals) and Neville (five disposals) through the midfield, whilst Assistant Coach and VFL veteran Digby Morrell finally found some space across half-forward, gathering six disposals.

At the last change, Coburg mentor Rawlings wasn't overly animated, telling his charges to continue the pressure, continue pushing forward at every opportunity and maintaining the pressure on the ball-carrier when they didn't have possession.

Speaking with Cleary on his way back to the box, Rawlings spoke of his belief that his team would overwhelm Box Hill in the final term, and the belief that Coburg were a better side than their 1-3 win-loss record suggested.

As expected, the Tigers came home with a wet sail. After putting up a fight for the first half of the term, Box Hill eventually succumbed, after a couple of snaps from Richmond-listed Kayne Pettifer sealed the deal.

The final term saw stout defence from Coburg players Nick Carnell (eight disposals) and captain Paul Shelton (seven disposals), whilst Jackson continued to bob up forward-of-centre, also gathering eight disposals.

In the end, Box Hill went down by 12 points in a gallant effort by the Hawks.

The final quarter of Batsanis (five disposals), Clarke (six disposals) and Morton (six disposals) were encouraging, and the overall team performance suggests a win isn't too far away for Box Hill.

At the conclusion of the game, the Tigers were presented with the annual ANZAC Cup, something which they've never lost to Box Hill in the brief history of these annual affairs.

Coburg playmaker Carnell was awarded the Gibbs-Lines Medal for best on ground, and told Cleary of his pride in winning such an award on such a special day for Australia, as well as the superb all-round team effort by the Tigers.

Better players for the victorious Tigers included: Carnell, who whilst only finishing with 13 disposals, he was able to nullify the impact of dangerous Box Hill forwards such as Morrell and Beau Dowler, both of whom were kept goalless for the entire match; captain Shelton, who was also resolute deep in defence, finishing with 15 disposals and six marks; Jackson, who provided a great roaming target forwards-of-centre, the tall redhead finishing with 23 disposals and four marks; veteran Tivendale, who proved he wasn't a spent force at AFL level, gathering 26 disposals and providing a lot of run off half-back; another wily veteran in Bowden, who showed he wasn't going to sulk after his recent demotion from AFL ranks, gathering 24 disposals, kicking two vital goals and taking eight marks at both ends of the ground; former Essendon and North Ballarat ruckman Cartledge, who won an amazing 44 hit-outs; and, developing Richmond-listed ruckman Angus Graham, who won 19 hit-outs and gathered 13 disposals.

Best players for the Hawks included: courageous little man Stephen Kenna, who suffered a broken nose during the first quarter, but returned to the field all taped up, and finished with 17 disposals and five marks, and provided a strong crumbing presence in the forward half of the ground; Kennedy, a third-generation Hawthorn player and the grandson of legendary Hawthorn coach John Kennedy, Josh finished with 19 disposals and five marks, using his strength in the clinches to provide a Box Hill advantage on many occasions, he also chimed in with two valuable goals; Markovic, who stepped up to the occasion very well, finishing with 20 disposals and seven marks playing across half-forward; Morton, who finished with 23 disposals and five marks roaming forward-of-centre; Kris Shore, who provided a strong-marking target in the Hawks forward line, finishing with six marks and three goals; and, Hawthorn-listed veteran Clarke, who took seven marks and finished with 16 possessions, using his explosive burst of pace to advantage on a number of occasions.

Due to this being the first weekend of a split round in the VFL, both Box Hill and Coburg can now enjoy a weekend off.

In round six, Coburg are due to meet Collingwood at ABD Group Stadium in an ABC TV match, whilst Box Hill face another tough task, this time facing reigning premier Geelong at Box Hill City Oval.

In other Round five results in this split round, at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on ANZAC Day, the Tasmania Devils continued their renaissance, defeating Casey Scorpions by 19 points. The Devils' James Charlesworth was voted best, and dropped Saint Fraser Gehrig apparently spent the day being double and triple-teamed, and had no impact.

On Saturday, in an ABC TV match at Trevor Barker Beach Road Oval in Sandringham, the Zebras showed they are back as a force again this season, smashing a hapless Bendigo Bombers by 70 points. Veteran Zebra Peter Summers was voted best, whilst in a good sign for Essendon fans, 2007 father-son draft pick Darcy Daniher showed promise up forward, booting four majors.

In Sunday action at Burbank Oval in Williamstown, the searing Port Philip Bay winds played havoc with the Seagulls and North Ballarat player's goalkicking. However, after an entertaining game, the Seagulls inflicted the Roosters' first loss of the season, by 17 points. Young Bulldogs-listed Guy O'Keefe was voted best.

Finally, also on Sunday, the Werribee Tigers provided somewhat of an upset, defeating the Northern Bullants by 16 points at MC Labour Park in Carlton. Veteran Werribee full-forward James Podsiadly was voted best, booting eight goals for the VFL's other Tigers.

The ladder at the completion of this weekend's play, with two games in Round five still to play sees North Ballarat retain top spot, despite their loss, with 16 points; followed just two percent behind by Williamstown, also on 16 points; then comes Sandringham (12 points); Casey Scorpions (12); Northern Bullants (12); Tasmania (12); Coburg Tigers (eight); and, Port Melbourne rounds out the top eight, also on eight points. Then comes Geelong (eight); Frankston (eight); Werribee (eight); Collingwood (eight); Bendigo (four); and, Box Hill remains rooted to last place, the only team yet to record a victory.

Next weekend sees a couple of bumper games in the VFL, with Port Melbourne taking on Frankston in the battle of the stand-alone sides on Saturday, whilst on Sunday, Collingwood play host to Geelong. Both games will be covered by 97.7FM Casey Radio 3SER, so join myself, Kain Pollard, Cameron Scott, Chris Weaver, Tristan Foenander, Nick Nikolovski, former VFL/AFL players Peter Banfield (Essendon and Brisbane Bears) and Tyson Lane (Western Bulldogs and Collingwood), and boundary-riding VFL cult figure "Fabulous" Phil Pearce on 12.30pm on Saturday, and 1.30pm Sunday, and we'll ensure all your VFL action is covered.

If you are in the Melbourne metropolitan area, tune in via 97.7FM, or anywhere else and you have a computer handy, go to 3SER and click on the "Listen Live" link.

28 April 2008

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