Coburg Target 1000: Co-captains Peter McEvoy and Ryan Exon back VFL club’s push for 1000 members in 2019

Newly-elected co-captain Peter McEvoy says the backing of Moreland residents will help Coburg return to its halcyon days and emerge as a VFL finals contender.

Coburg Football Club co-captains for 2019 — Ryan Exon and Peter McEvoy.

Newly-elected co-captain Peter McEvoy says the backing of Moreland residents will help Coburg return to its halcyon days and emerge as a VFL finals contender.

McEvoy and fellow co-captain Ryan Exon have backed the Lions’ ‘Target 1000’ membership campaign, which is being run in conjunction with Moreland Leader.

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McEvoy, a key-position player who previously featured for Box Hill Hawks, said community support would be vital for the Lions to prosper.

“It’s always fantastic when you can get support of family and friends of players,” McEvoy said.

“But (we want) to go beyond that and really try and build a powerful VFL club in Coburg.

“We historically have been there before, but we would love to get back there again and have the support of the community. Any extra people who can come on board, it makes a big difference.”

While the financial support is significant for one of the VFL’s stand-alone clubs, McEvoy said more supporters at Coburg matches would give the club’s players a lift.

“Knowing we have the support of the community is huge,” he said.

“We’re really positive about how we are going to take it up to some of those elite (AFL-aligned) teams this year and we should be able to do the Coburg community proud.”

Coburg Football Club leadership group for 2019 — Sam Lowson, Luke Bunker, Ryan Exon, Peter McEvoy, Jesse Corigliano and Mitch Podhajski.

Exon echoed those sentiments, adding the passion of the club’s small, but loyal, support base was a driving force for its players.

“The guys who stand on the terrace every week and support us, it’s massive,” he said.

“It would have been easy for those guys to jump off with the lack of success we have had.

“But the fact they have stuck around and we have got loyal supporters there is massive. We get a lot out of it.”

With a developing playing group, Exon said fans who signed on this year would enjoy watching Coburg climb the ladder in coming seasons.

“I think the club is heading in a really nice direction,” he said.

“Long-term, I think we are in a really nice spot.

“It’s just getting the support now and in the next few years so we have the resources and the ability to keep moving up the ladder.”

As of Thursday, the Lions had signed 566 members for 2019.

The ‘Target 1000’ campaign has received the backing of AFL players Michael Hartley, Luke Ryan and Robbie Fox, along with Coburg greats including Nick Carnell, Brad Nimmo and Kerion Lawson.

To sign up as a member, log on to coburgfc.com.au/membership