Coburg Target 1000: Longest-serving player Jesse Corigliano details why people should support the club’s member drive

As the longest-serving player on Coburg’s list, Jesse Corigliano has a rich appreciation of the importance of community support for the stand-alone VFL club.

Jesse Corigliano tries to shrug clear of a tackle against Northern Blues. Picture: Hamish Blair

As the longest-serving player on Coburg’s list, Jesse Corigliano has a rich appreciation of the importance of community support for the stand-alone VFL club.

Corigliano, a Strathmore junior, took a well-trodden path when he graduated from TAC Cup club Calder Cannons and joined the Lions in 2015.

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Coburg City Oval has since become “like home” for the 22-year-old defender, who has progressed from the VFL Development League to become a member of Coburg’s leadership group.

“We understand the situation we are in, everyone that comes to Coburg,” Corigliano said.

“We have got to have something different when we come up against these AFL clubs and clubs like Williamstown and Port Melbourne.

“We might not match them for talent, but we understand we have got to have something different and that’s where the mateship and camaraderie comes in.

“That’s where we think this year we will have other clubs beat and where we think we will win most of our games from.”

The Lions hope a greater support base will also help their on-field cause this year as they push for 1000 members in 2019.

Jesse Corigliano rises above a pack to mark for Coburg. Picture: Kylie Else

Corigliano has joined co-captains Peter McEvoy and Ryan Exon, AFL players Luke Ryan, Michael Hartley and Robbie Fox and club legends including Nick Carnell and Kerion Lawson in urging Moreland to support the ‘Target 1000’ campaign.

“We are one of the clubs that doesn’t have revenue from pokies, so we are completely reliant on memberships and sponsorships,” Corigliano said.

“The more people that can help us out, it goes a really long way.

“From facilities, player payments, all that sort of thing, we struggle without the pokies and we rely on the people.”

The joint vice-captain said the Lions would embrace “underdog” status this season and reward those who signed on with determined performances against the state league’s better-resourced clubs.

“There’s so many great people at the Coburg footy club, past and present,” Corigliano said. “I made heaps of friends coming there from the TAC Cup who are now gone. But good people just continue to come in and add to the club.

“It’s just such an easy place to be, it feels like home.

“Going there to training and having chats to all the people you know, whether it’s the players, the (general manager), the coaches.

“There’s just really good people there. Even the volunteers, they just make it a pretty good place to be.”

To become a member, visit coburgfc.com.au/membership