VFL: Werribee too strong for Coburg as AFL trial new rules

Werribee have proved too strong for Coburg in round eighteen of the VFL at Piranha Park to record their fifth win of the season. The Tigers kicked with the wind to the city end in the first quarter and booted six goals to nil to set up their 16.9.105 to 8.10.58 win.

They had twelve goal kickers for the day with Nick Coughlan, Jake Sharp, Dane McFarlane and Andrew Hopper booting two each while for Coburg Hisham Kerbatieh and Sam Lowson both kicked two. The match received added exposure late in the week when the AFL announced it would use the game to trial possible new rule changes that the competition’s governing body were looking to add in the near future.

AFL footy boss, Steve Hocking, was in attendance watching closely from the terraces as players adopted a 6-6-6 format after each goal was kicked and the goal squares were extended from nine metres to 18 allowing defenders to kick over defensive lines in the hope of easing congestion in play.

Both coaches spoke after the match saying they didn’t believe the trial had much effect on the way the match was played out. The game was chosen by the AFL with both Werribee and Coburg having no hope of playing in the VFL finals series this season.

As Werribee held the home side goalless in the first term, they too were held goalless in the second as Coburg fought hard to edge their way back into the game. The Lions booted four goals, two coming from the boot of Lowson, to see them within twelve points at the main change.

Werribee responded in the third quarter with five goals to stretch their lead to 37-points at the final break, Kerbatieh booting the only goal for Coburg for the term and the first one into the wind for the match. The home side getting to within ten points midway through the quarter before Werribee rallied.

 In form Werribee defender, Sam Collins, was keeping Coburg spearhead, Peter McEvoy, under wraps while Jack Berry (52 hitouts) has the better of counterpart Tom Goodwin in the ruck.

Same again for Werribee in the last, as they slotted through another five goals into the wind for the term, while Coburg could only manage three with it. Major ball winners for Werribee were Joe Maishman with 30 disposals including fourteen kicks and sixteen handballs, Collins (24 disposals, 13 marks) and Dominic Brew (22, 10 clearances, 13 tackles).

For Coburg Marcus Lentini continues to find the sherrin with 26 disposals, Ben Allan had 24 and Nick Mellington 23 touches while Ryan Exon and Jackson McDonald worked hard to figured in the Lions’ best.

Werribee host the Box Hill Hawks in round nineteen while Coburg could snatch a rare win against the Northern Blues at Preston.

For full match details log onto the VFL website here