VFL 2018: Ex-AFL small forward Robin Nahas nails six goals as Port Melbourne sees off Coburg

EX-AFL small forward Robin Nahas kicked six goals as Port Melbourne shook off Coburg in their VFL Round 16 match at North Port Oval.

IT was “Love the Game’’ round in the VFL, and Port Melbourne supporters certainly loved the game of Robin Nahas against Coburg on Saturday.

The right-footer, in his second year back at Port after a worthy AFL career with Richmond and North Melbourne, booted six goals as the Borough defeated fellow stand-alone team the Lions by 27 points in the Round 16 match at North Port Oval.

Port needed his star turn.

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At three-quarter time the Borough led by only eight points. But Nahas slotted three goals in the first 10 minutes of the final quarter as the home team shook off the persisting Burgers.

It was Nahas’s best return for Port, which improved to 8-6 to stay in top-four contention.

Fellow small forward Blake Pearson booted three goals.

“He was the difference between the two sides in a game that didn’t reach any great heights,’’ Borough coach Gary Ayres said of Nahas.

“He kicked 6.4. It probably says that if we can work the ball inside 50 in a more direct manner we’ve got the forwards who can get the job done.’’

Robin Nahas was the difference for Port Melbourne on Saturday against Coburg. Picture: Mark Dadswell.

Tom O’Sullivan had an outstanding match with 37 possessions, Mac Rivett 28 and the returning Dillon Viojo-Rainbow 23.

And Collingwood recruit Ryan Pendlebury (22 disposals) played his best game for the Borough.

“He’s getting more in tune with what we want,’’ Ayres said of the left-footer.

“He’s going to have to take his game to another level, as everyone else will have to over the next month.’’

Unfortunately the victory was accompanied by an injury, with speedy onballer Ash Krakauer hurting an ankle in the first quarter. He was on crutches after the match.

The previous week Port had lost ace onballer Izzy Conway for the rest of the season with an ACL injury.

Ayres took time to praise Coburg, saying its past three weeks had produced good form and it was making progress under the coaching of former Kangaroo Leigh Adams.

The Borough have a bye this weekend, then finish the home-and-away fixture with a testing four-week block: Essendon (home), Collingwood (home), Williamstown (away) and Footscray (away).

SCOREBOARD

Port Melbourne 1.3, 6.7, 10.12, 15.15 (105)

Coburg 3.5, 5.6, 9.10, 11.12 (78)

Port Melbourne goals: R. Nahas 6, B. Pearson 3, G. Dickson 2, T. O’’Sullivan, C. Carey, K. Haretuku, L. Tynan

Best: R. Nahas, T. O’Sullivan, M. Rivett, K. Haretuku, S. Lange, R. Pendlebury

Coburg goals: S. Lowson 3, A. Swierzbiolek 2, J. O’’Donoghue, N. Mellington, M. Lentini, H. Kerbatieh, J. Guthrie, J. Weightman

Best: J. Murphy, H. Nolan, H. Kerbatieh, J. Iacobaccio, A. Swierzbiolek, L. Dickson