Coburg defends grimly to hold off Frankston and record its second win of the VFL season
It may not have been pretty but Coburg and Frankston are two teams desperate for victory and it was the Lions who clawed over the line in an enthralling wooden spoon rivalry battle.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Coburg completed the season sweep of Frankston on Sunday with a fighting six-point win on the road.
Frankston Park has been anything but a happy hunting ground for the Lions in the past, the 9.8 (62) to 7.14 (56) victory just the third in the last 18 games.
It was also an important win mentally for Coburg, having lost five VFL games by less than three goals this season.
Leading by five points at three-quarter-time, Lions coach Leigh Adams implored his players not to let the four points slip.
“We don’t normally play to well at (Frankston), so to go in at three-quarter-time a goal up, I thought we were going to be in a bit of strife,” he said.
“I just said ‘let’s make sure we don’t come off the ground with another sick feeling in our guts because we didn’t get over the line’.
“Our boys were fantastic in the last quarter, they dug really deep, managed to kick a couple of goals against the breeze and hold on.
“We didn’t play our best footy but that’s credit to Frankston, they brought a heap of pressure, and we didn’t handle it early.”
In blustery conditions, Coburg kicked out to a 14-point lead at quarter-time but trailed by a point at half-time as the Dolphins enjoyed the wind at their back.
REPORT: McLEAN, CAVARRA STAR AS DOGS BITE PORT
LEADER: GET YOUR VFL FOOTY NEWS HERE
WEATHER: LOCAL FOOTY BRAVES WILD CONDITIONS
As Frankston eyed a rare win, only two late goals to Luke Bunker and Adam Swierzbiolek kept the Lions’ noses in front at the last change.
Early goals against the wind to Josh Weightman and Steve Stroobants gave Coburg an 11-point lead and grim defending and Frankston’s horribly wasteful 0.6 sealed the win.
Weightman was best on ground in the win with 22 disposals, eights tackles and two goals.
“Josh missed last week with hamstring tightness but he was sensational for us, jumped straight back in,” Adams said.
“Particularly in the first half when the game was really hot he looked like the only one who was clean and able to handle the pressure.”
The VFL’s leading ball-winner Marcus Lentini was again prolific with 35 touches while Luke Bunker continued his impressive season with 25 possessions, 10 tackles and a goal and now sits third in the VFL with 90 tackles.
The win moves the Lions above North Melbourne on the ladder with a clash against Essendon at Piranha Park this weekend.
WHAT A LEADER LOCAL FOOTY SUBSCRIPTION GIVES YOU ACCESS TO
— Match reports, features, player and coach movements and analysis of all the leagues across Melbourne.
— Unprecedented AFL coverage.
— All the latest football news from across the country including Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph and Courier-Mail.
— Latest news and videos from the world’s leading leagues.
— Exclusive digital stories and videos before they go to print.
‘Just enjoy your footy’: Eley Park’s goals for 2025
Eley Park has a clear message heading into the 2025 season and coach Matt Embling reveals what he’s hoping to see from the club.
The local footy teams to keep an eye on in 2025
From clubs with massive off-season recruiting drives to those who need to live up to the pressure, these are the local footy teams you need to keep an eye on in 2025.