Queen's Birthday Review

The Cobras are knocking on the door of the top six following their comprehensive 51-point win over Sunbury in Saturday's standalone Queens Birthday match at Maddingley Park.

A large crowd made the trip in support of the MND cause to witness the pre-game slide fundraiser led by former Western Bulldog champion and local favourite Doug Hawkins. The Cobra crew do a fantastic job in the football community raising money and awareness, earmarking the Queen’s Birthday weekend as their own on the BFNL calendar and drawing the interest of national TV networks Seven and Nine, who covered the event on their news platforms.

On the field, the Cobras put this game to bed early with six unanswered goals in the second quarter to set up a match-winning 47-point lead. For the record, their 10.4-64 score line at the main break was their best return (of any half) this season. And they did it all (on the scoreboard) without inspirational Captain Jake Owen, who has found himself in defence over the last two games in the absence of Jack Williams and Jason Robinson who remain side-lined with injury. Owen was still considered BOG by many in his rebounding role with double figure marks, proving the catalyst in transition, while denying the visitors any impact on the scoreboard.

Cobras ruckman Daniel Burton (2 goals) was back to his Henderson Medal-winning form, dominating at hit-outs and around the ground. Forwards Aaron Willetts and youngster Joel Freeman were rewarded for playing in front, making the most of their opportunities to finish with four goals. Cobra midfielders Harry King, Tom German, Max Eastmure and Jack Parente looked energised in a milestone game response to club legend Tyson Shea's 250th game. Shea too was typically in an under, adrenaline still riding high having run through (carefully!) a dedicated banner with his two children ahead of the opening bounce.

For Sunbury, they look a world away from what their ability suggests on paper, but the future looks bright as they get more games into Cody Bramble, Jake Egan, Jack Newitt, Lachie Urbon and Mitch McLean. Ball magnet and Lions captain Daniel Toman missed a second successive game, which didn’t help the visitors cause, but Harrison Minton-Connell stood up in his absence to be their best player. The Lions struggles continue forward with just the six goals, and all singles despite the inclusion of Essendon VFL listed targets Jake Sutton and Cooper Anderson.

In closing, it was clearly the Cobras’ best team effort of the year with notable contributions from near all 22 players. For Sunbury however, it may well have been their worst.