Coburg Lions news

Coburg Tigers flag intentions

From Herald Sun
Reported by Geoff Poulter

SECOND-placed Coburg Tigers are keen to test themselves against the two main flag contenders in the final four rounds.

They clash with Geelong (third) this morning at Skilled Stadium and then face an away game against ladder-leader Sandringham in Round 20 on August 25.

"They are clearly the class sides of the competition this year," Coburg coach Andrew Collins said this week.

"It is an exciting challenge to play at Geelong this week and then we've got Sandringham in a couple of weeks."

Collins is also chuffed about playing the curtain-raiser to the Geelong-Richmond game.

"I would encourage the VFL to do that bit more," he said.

"There are some special games played as curtain-raisers to an AFL game when it could easily have been VFL games.

"We have that opportunity with the alignments.

"It would be great to have the Coburg Tigers playing on the MCG before the Richmond Tigers (Coburg's affiliate)."

Tough Tigers hold off Bullants

From The Age
Reported by Chris Walker

THE Coburg Tigers staved off a gallant Northern Bullants side by 12 points at Preston City Oval yesterday, getting up 10.14 (74) to 8.14 (62) on a bitterly cold and rainy afternoon.

Despite going into the game as underdogs, the Bullants fired the first shot and when Mark Austin kicked the first of his three goals, the Tigers had some catching up to do.

With a patient forward structure and seemingly endless space, the Bullants looked the better side in the opening term and had a two-goal advantage at the first break.

David Teague and Josh Houlihan led the way with 10 possessions each.

The second quarter was sloppy as expected as the ball gathered mud, but Coburg came to life and began to run numbers behind the ball. The forward pair of Kent Kingsley and Jay Schulz were clearly hampered by the conditions.

"It was always going to be tough for those two. The conditions didn't suit them at all," Tigers coach Andy Collins said. Inaccuracy also cost Kingsley, who should have kicked at least four goals but ended with two.

From Herald Sun
Reported by Geoff Poulter

RICHMOND forward Nathan Brown took another significant step along the comeback trail with a steady performance in the Coburg Tigers' 29-point loss to Sandringham yesterday.

Brown, returning after complications to a broken leg, had 12 disposals and kicked two goals in about 60 minutes of game time at Coburg City Oval. He was rested for the last quarter.

He looked lively and used the ball well but is expected to line up again with Coburg in Round 10 on Sunday against Frankston.

"To step up after last week (50 minutes in Coburg reserves) was good," Brown said.

"I slipped over a couple of times but I was pretty happy with it.

"I'm not sure what the program is. I will speak to the coach and fitness staff and see what they think."

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