Coburg comeback falls one point short in SEWFL grand final against Seaford
In its first full season Coburg came agonisingly close to premiership glory but the Lions remain proud of a brilliant campaign.
Vic Womens
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Coburg fell agonisingly short of premiership glory on Sunday but is holding its head high.
The Lions fell one-point short of Seaford in the South East Women’s decider at SkyBus Stadium in a heart-stopping season finale.
In the club’s first full season of women’s football, Coburg was undefeated in the home-and-away season but couldn’t complete the dream, going down 5.3 (33) to 5.2 (32).
The Lions gave Seaford a 19-0 headstart with a lop-sided free kick count of 16-3 at quarter-time.
They stormed home and laid siege to the Tigers defence in the fourth term but were able to find the winning goal in the dying minutes.
Despite the result, coach Liam Cavanagh was proud of his players achievements this season.
“It was a good game, we just took too long to get going,” he said.
“Credit to Seaford, they made the most of the opportunities they were given, we tightened things up and clawed back up ran out of time.
“We outscored them in every quarter but we had too much work to do and unfortunately, that last 20 minutes, we couldn’t find the goal and Seaford defended really well.”
Cavanagh named Mia Muscat as Coburg’s best in the loss with a starring performance off half-back.
“Mia is a big-game player and I put it on her during the week that we needed her to be her best and she delivered,” he said.
“Playing off half-back, she continually drove us forward and kept us on the attack.
“Amy Duguid was really good all day and set up a lot of goals and I thought Rachael Burton and Teagan Brett played really well also.”
After being held scoreless in the opening quarter, Coburg hit back in the second, booting two goals to nil to draw within nine points at half-time.
The margin had been whittled down to two points at the final change but the Lions could only manage one behind as Seaford defended grimly.
Despite the grand final result it was a hugely successful season for Coburg.
The Lions swept the SEWFL awards last week with Natasha Phipps crowned the Premier Division league best-and-fairest.
Teammate Brittney Gray finished runner-up and Lions spearhead Teagan Brett took home the goalkicking award with 20 majors.
Phipps, Gray, Brett, Dacia Abela, Maddie Edwards and Rachel Burton were all named in the Team of the Year with Cavanagh named coach.
Coburg’s reserves, playing in Division 2, reached the preliminary final.
In the club’s second season, Cavanagh saw plenty of promise for the future.
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“We get swept up in the now a little bit but it’s important to remember this is year two,” he said.
“It’s our first full season, we’d played 10 games with last year getting cancelled, and if you’d told me were we’d be 12 months ago I wouldn’t have believed you.
“We’re really proud of the effort and I think this will be a defining moment for us, these are the things that galvanise a team and make you stronger and better.
“I’m sure there’s an absolute drive in players and coaches to get better.”
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