EDFL 2019: Coburg Districts skipper Aaron Aquilina discusses finals

Coburg Districts will start their finals campaign this weekend with a cut-throat semi-final after finishing third and captain Aaron Aquilina believes his team’s recent run of form has it in a strong position.

Coburg Districts celebrate a goal against Keilor Park on Saturday. Picture: Josie Hayden

A watertight defence has been a key factor in Coburg Districts’ climb up the ladder in the second half of the EDFL Division 2 season.

The Lions have conceded eight goals or less in six of their past seven matches and have reason to enter finals full of confidence despite Sunbury Kangaroos’ dominance.

Coburg Districts were 4-4 after eight rounds but recovered to finish the home-and-away rounds in third position with a 10-5 record, setting up an elimination final against Burnside Heights at Greenvale Reserve on Saturday.

Coach Chris Tankard tinkered with his side’s game plan after the up-and-down start, with the changes paying dividends.

Coburg Districts’ Kyle Dalmau fires off a handball. Picture: Josie Hayden

“Our defensive game plan, our defensive mindset, has been the best I’ve ever been a part of,” Lions skipper Aaron Aquilina said.

“The scores show that — we haven’t been scored against heavily — so it’s really coming together nicely.

“You can’t just rely on the back six all the time, especially these days.

“You see midfielders can go out and put a bag of goals together that can really hurt you.

“All 18 players have to have a defensive mindset and transition running defensively really helps that game plan.”

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The Kangaroos and Moonee Valley will contest this weekend’s major semi-final.

The minor premiers have been an indomitable force since crossing from the RDFL and have won their two clashes with Coburg Districts by a combined margin of 199 points, including a 62-point victory in Round 17.

But Aquilina is hopeful his team can send Tankard out on a high, with the experienced coach set to depart at season’s end after six years at the helm.

“I sure hope so and I believe we can,” Aquilina said.

“It’s going to be a tough ask … but more than confident in the boys we have that we can send Tanks off in the right way.

“They (Sunbury Kangaroos) can be beaten, most definitely. Anyone can be beaten on the day.

“They’re the favourites to win it, and rightfully so. They haven’t put a foot wrong all year.

“I’ve been in the comp for about six years now and every year it just gets better and stronger. Without a doubt, it’s the best it has ever been.”

The Lions lost the 2017 decider to Jacana and were finals spectators last year.

They have injected youth into their line-up, with speedy midfielder Ben Fisher impressing since arriving from Moonee Valley over summer.

Playing assistant coach Tom Gleeson has brought valuable experience, while Matthew Vesnaver, Spencer Aitken and Michael Young have been other consistent performers.

“At the start of the year our best football was as good as any side, but in our down patches we were really exposed,” Aquilina said.

“We concentrated on trying to bridge that gap between the two extremes and other players have come in and played their roles really well.”

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