The performances of several Richmond-listed players almost got Coburg over the line in Round 4 of the VFL yesterday.
Graham Polak, Tom Hislop and Daniel Connors were among the best players on the ground in the Tigers’ eight-point loss against the undefeated Sandringham Zebras.
The loss was Coburg’s third of the season by 10 points or less.
Polak controlled the forward line all afternoon, finishing with three goals, 16 possessions and eight marks.
Connors (34 possessions), Hislop (17 touches and two goals), Jayden Post (24 possessions) and Jordan McMahon (25) also won plenty of the ball.
In defence, David Gourdis continued his brilliant start to the season, gathering 21 touches and cutting off several Sandringham attacks with nine marks.
After the match, Coburg coach David Newett praised the work of Polak and Gourdis.
“Polly really straightened us up and provided a real target. It’s the best he’s marked all year, and he really looked like he was running on top of the ground,” he said.
“When he didn’t mark it he created a contest to give our smalls an opportunity to crumb goals.
“Down back, Dave Gourdis was excellent with his ability to chop out their attacks.
“He used his pace, and did a really good job with his defensive spoiling, marking and rebounding.”
Coburg started the match slowly after a scrappy first quarter, but Connors and Polak were instrumental in orchestrating a slender lead for the Tigers at the main break.
The third quarter belonged to the Zebras, before Coburg finished the match in a flurry but fell just short.
After the match, Newett praised his players for their ability to stay in the contest.
“It’s pleasing to see we’re still fighting out quarters. We’re not getting beaten by big margins,” he said.
“Our ball movement wasn’t exactly where we would have liked, but we still found ourselves in the game.
“The guys have a good resolve, we just have to find a way to stay in front in the last quarter.”
The Tigers are on the road again this week when they play Casey on Saturday May 8 at Casey Fields.
Final Score
Coburg: 0.3 5.4 8.6 10.10 (70)
Sandringham 2.7 4.9 10.15 10.18 (78)
Goals: Polak 3, Jordon 2, Hislop 2, Kahlefeldt, Piuselli, White 1
Best: Clifton, Connors, Morgan, Hislop, Gourdis, Rayson
