Coburg coach Andrew Sturgess opens up on aftermath of Essendon loss

Coburg coach Andrew Sturgess discusses the aftermath of Sunday’s devastating VFL loss and the positives he’s finding in the Lions’ season.

How do you pick a team up after a loss as devastating as Coburg’s to Essendon VFL on Sunday?

The Lions, after leading for much of the day, were beaten by a bouncing ball that dribbled through for a point as the Windy Hill siren sounded.

The disappointment was palpable in the Lions’ rooms after the match and coach Andrew Sturgess revealed he didn’t talk to his players in the aftermath.

“The natural reaction straight after a devastating loss, in the manner we did, is disappointment, a lot of irrational thoughts and high emotion,” he said.

“After the game I made the conscious decision not to address the players and that wasn’t out of disappointment, I just thought there was nothing to gain in talking in that moment.

Coburg coach Andrew Sturgess. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“I could have said all the positive things in the world but it would have fallen on deaf ears because they were feeling as low as shark s--t.

“If I had have said anything negative it could have been damaging and fracturing and had a longer lasting impact.”

Coburg led by 19 points at three-quarter-time and looked on track for a much-needed win.

With scores level and just seconds remaining, former Lion Jake Sutton broke his former club’s hearts with a snap shot that bounced through.

“It’s disappointing to lose, particularly given we’d put ourselves in a position to win, and we felt going into the last quarter we were going to – hold on is the wrong word – but run away with it,” Sturgess said.

“To Essendon’s credit they upped the ante and our guys probably played it a bit safe to be fair and we hadn’t been in a position where we’d been in front and win the game.”

The defeat leaves Coburg second last on the ladder with a 1-7 record.

However, it’s not all about win-loss for Sturgess.

Coburg’s Tom Silvestro kicks a goal. Picture: George Salpigtidis

After two COVID-impacted seasons, Coburg has only played 18 games since Sturgess took the reins.

He has overseen an almost complete list overhaul and can see the positives despite the on-field struggles.

“We had a reset after the Collingwood game and since then we’ve upped our average score from 49 points in the first five games to 75 in the last three,” Sturgess said.

“Our pressure acts have gone from 150 to 220 and our scoring shots have gone from 14 to 21.

“In a win-loss industry it can be tough, particularly when you’re on the bottom of the ladder, to look at ways you are improving and growing but we’ve got to look at the small wins.

“I listened to Chis Fagan on AFL 360 and he was reflecting on his first few years at Brisbane and how externally they weren’t making a lot of ground but internally they had a plan and vision.

“They didn’t focus on the wins and losses as a measure of success it was things like lowering scores against or improving their inside 50s and it was only in the third year they saw that translate to the wins column.”

Coburg’s young talent is also cause for positivity.

In his first season out of the NAB League, 19-year-old Flynn Gentile collected 25 disposals (17 contested), 10 clearances, nine tackles, seven score involvements and two goals against Sydney.

Braedyn Gillard followed it up with a career-best game against Essendon with 26 touches, seven tackles and two goals.

Jack Maibaum is one of the best key defenders in the competition and remains in AFL draft discussions, as does Charlie Thompson.

“In previous years we’ve had a heavy dependence on our senior guys but we are starting to get growth from beneath,” Sturgess said.

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“Braedyn has taken four years to fully cement himself in the team and now finds himself as a pivotal part of our midfield and had his best game for the club by a mile on the weekend.

“Flynn, who’s eight or nine games into his VFL career, against a Sydney outfit that had 18-AFL listed players and a lot of high-end talent and went toe-to-toe.

“Where we are at the moment we need to look at what growth we’re getting from players and as a team and it is encouraging some of those young guys step up and come through.”

Coburg will host Frankston at Piranha Park on Sunday hoping a clash against a fellow standalone can turn its fortunes around.