Coburg coach reflects on impressive debut season in SEWFL

Lockdown might have denied Coburg a stunning finals appearance in its debut women’s season but there was still plenty to smile about.

Coburg enjoyed an impressive debut women's football season.

Coburg wasted no time establishing itself as one of the rising clubs of women’s football this season.

In their inaugural season, the Lions secured five wins from 10 games in the strong South Eastern Women’s Premier Division and missed a top-four finish on percentage.

If not for three Covid lockdowns the club was almost certain to play finals in its debut campaign.

Coburg coach Liam Cavanagh was rapt with the way his team bonded after only coming together in December.

“We’re a little bit disappointed because we played first, second and third twice and never played the bottom team and the second bottom once,” he said.

Coburg coach Liam Cavanagh talks to his players. Picture: Damian Atamian

“One the balance of probability – we beat the team above us twice – we would have finished third or fourth. Finals or not, the season was quite successful.

“We reduced margins against teams that beat us and were a bit unlucky not to get a few wins against the top sides … so we’re really happy with the rapid progression.

“I think I underestimated the value of having a team that plays together a lot and jells and that was always going to be our weakness.

“From not knowing each other in December to where we are now as a really close group is the most pleasing thing.”

A bizarre trip to Tyabb in Round 5 proved memorable and season-defining.

“It was one of those games were the fog makes the game almost unplayable and the umpires ran out there with a red footy to start the game,” Cavanagh recalled.

“There was no scoreboard or siren so someone had to press their car horn every 20 minutes.

“We were driving to Tyabb, which is a long way from Coburg, so we had every reason to not be excited – Saturday night, cold and foggy.

“We flipped it on its head, we talked about ‘I love Tyabb, it’s the best place in the world’ and lets be gate-crashers and have a great night.

“I honestly have never coached less in a game because I couldn’t see past 10 metres.

“It was season-defining too, at that stage if we’d won that game we were a lock for finals because it was against Tyabb who ended up fourth.

“You look back on moments of overcoming resilience, that was the one for me and we got a lot from that as a group.”

It’s a significant achievement as Coburg only finalised its playing list earlier this season.

In all, 11 Lions played every game this season with the likes of Mia Muscat, Tylah Bell, Sophie Damon and Natasha Phipps the standouts.

Cavanagh said captain Maddie Edwards helped bring the club together while also playing a key role on field.

“You can’t underestimate the impact Maddie Edwards had on the club, our inaugural captain and only 20 years old,” he said.

“We had a brand new team of girls that didn’t know each other and she had to bring that all together while developing her own footy as well, she did a terrific job.

“Tyler Bell was one for us who led a lot of our stats and Mia Muscat was our biggest driver in attack, she really set the standard,” he said.

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“Mia is probably the hardest worker at the club, she’s got ambitions to play at the highest level and I’ve got no doubt she’ll get there.

“Nat Phipps came to us really raw but became a real centrepiece of our set-up because she just willed herself to progress.

“Our biggest concern was her kicking and over the course of the season her kicking became her strength, likewise her ground game and ruck work.”

Coburg will hold tryouts again over summer as the club looks to build on an impressive first season by introducing a reserves team in 2022.