Body:
From the 'Moreland Leader'
Other Tigers are OK
by Brad Bishop
WHILE things have gone from bad to worse at
Tigerland since a scintillating start to the
AFL season, the exact opposite has happened
at the home of Richmond's VFL-aligned club.
Since a 44-point pasting at the hands of
Sandringham in round one, the Coburg Tigers
have taken all before them and after three
rounds found themselves in the top eight,
with two wins to their name.
Coburg's consistency has impressed coach
David Flood in the early rounds.
The Tigers rebounded from their opening round
loss with a hard-fought 10-point win over
Springvale and while their third-round success
over reigning premier Williamstown was by
the same margin, it came in much more impressive
circumstances.
Coburg had a chance to further enhance their
standing yesterday, after the Leader's deadline,
when they took on the winless Box Hill Hawks.
Of the non Richmond-listed players, Flood said
there have been contributions from the
experienced and younger types.
"Leigh Carlson and Dean Talbot have been
fantastic from a leadership point of view.
"It's been impressive the way they've gone about
their footy both on and iff the field.
"Of the young blokes, Eric Kuret and Warren
Carlye, two guys we've made deputy vice-captains
this season, have both had good starts to
the year."
Although sixth after three rounds, Flood said
the team had not altered its goals for 2004.
"The main thing we want to keep doing is
developing the younger players," he said. "If
the wins come our way that's terrific but
we're just trying to stabilise the playing group."
