Coburg struck a blow to the Northern Blues’ finals aspirations with a two-point upset win in blustery conditions at Piranha Park on Queen’s Birthday Monday.
 
The Blues head into the bye teetering at 2-6 and despite six lead changes in final 35 minutes of the match, fell to the Lions 10. 5. (65) to 9. 9. (63).
 
While The Blues would take heart from their effort with wins in tackles (74-63) and clearances (37-34), the scoreboard defeats with advantages in forward 50 entries (55-33) and 105 more possessions was proof of the Blues’ wasteful afternoon.
 
A one-point quarter time margin reflected the evenness of the two sides in the first quarter with the lead changing hands four times and the ball spending equal time up both ends.
 
Matthew Watson (two goals) opened the Blues’ account with his first of the afternoon. The home side then booted two of their own before Blues’ best, David Ellard (23 possessions, 10 tackles) registered one of his three goals and Watson closed out the quarter with his second.
 
Relentless pressure from the Lions saw the first three goals of the second quarter go their way and secure them the biggest lead of the match (15 points) heading into the main break.

The tussle continued in the third term with AFL listed players; Chris Yarran (23 possessions) and Kristian Jaksch kicking two of the Blues three goals which saw them take the slightest of advantages into the final term.
 
Kicking against the breeze in the last quarter saw the Blues lose their narrow lead early before a chain of contested marks resulted in a well-deserved team goal from Ellard that seemingly boosted the players’ spirits.
 
The Lions surged late in the quarter resulting in an eight-point advantage to the home side with three minutes left in the game. A goal to Nick Holman in the final seconds sparked another revival, but it wasn’t enough to bring it back; the Blues going down by two points.

Coburg were led by 21 possessions and two goals to ex-Demon Cale Morton, while Daniel Venditti (21 possessions) and Daniel Younan (three goals) were crucial support acts.

Blues vice-captain Kieran Mcguiness (30 possessions) appeared to have the ball on a string for most of the afternoon, while Mark Whiley was again hard-nosed, with 13 of his 23 possessions won in contests.
 
Post-match the midfielder said it was another disappointing day.
 
“We felt were on top in a lot of areas for most of the day,” Whiley said.
 
“(We’re disappointed) to get run over. We had too many of those lapses and they cost us.”
 
With now 12 days between now and their next match, Whiley said ball movement would be a focus.
 
“It was blowing a gale for all of today and I think we handballed to much going into the wind, when we should have just kicked it.
 
“We’ll look at that. We just need to learn to control the ball a bit better and cut down those lapses. The results will come.”
 
The Blues will tackle the Werribee Tigers at Ikon Park on Saturday, June 20.
 
COBURG                                 3.1       7.1       8.2       10. 5. (65)
NORTHERN BLUES                 3.2       4.4       7.9       9.  9.  (63)
 
GOALS
COBURG: Younan 3, Carnell 2, Cauchi 2, Fox, Venditti, Hill
NORTHERN BLUES: Ellard 3, Watson 2, Yarran, Johnson, Jaksch, Holman
 
BEST
COBURG: Venditti, Orr, McConnell, Younan, Hartley, Fox
NORTHERN BLUES: Ellard, Walsh, Armitage, Holman, Watson, McGuinness