The Dandenong
Southern Stingrays easily accounted for the visiting interstate Tasmania Mariners
by a massive 101 points in the Round 5 TAC Cup match at Shepley Oval, Dandenong
last Saturday.
The Stingrays welcomed
back Luke Parker and Adam Treloar from AIS AFL Academy duties and Tom
Lynch from his broken finger but lost Jarryd Amalfi with an ankle and Tom
Curren who has to play AGS football for his school. With a very strong breeze
from the north having a major effect on the game, the Stingrays had to work
very hard in the first term kicking into the wind. A fast start was needed and
achieved as the Stingrays kicked the first 3 goals of the game, dominating all
the play in the first half of the first term and quickly opened up a 20 point
lead. The Mariners steadied but could not capitalize on the breeze and the
Stingrays held sway leading 4-3-27 to 3-5-23 at quarter time.
The second term was the
best quarter for the visiting Mariners as they bottled up the play and prevented
the Stingrays from finding any space to work in. Eventually the Stingrays were
able to escape the grip of the Mariners and with good spread from stoppages
managed to kick 5 goals, all from hard running and overlapping. The Mariners
also kicked two goals into the breeze in an entertaining quarter of football.
Stingrays coach Graeme Yeats was well pleased with his team especially the evenness
of the contribution from all players. The Stingrays had extended their score to
9-5-59 to the Mariners 5-7-37 and were well in control at the long break.
The third term was where
the Stingrays started to dominate the Mariners, kicking 5 goals into the breeze
while keeping the Mariners to one and held an eight goal lead at ¾ time. The
Stingrays backline was the springboard to many attacking moves with Riley Heddles, Jake Batchelor, Matt Buntine and
Lachie Edwards all on top of their direct opponents. Todd
Elton and Daniel Harrison
were solid in the Ruck and on ballers Mitch Hallahan,
Brad Tagg, Luke
Parker and Alex Benbow
found plenty of it especially contested possessions.
The final term was complete
domination by the Stingrays as they piled on nine unanswered goals to extend
the lead to 101 by the end of the game. The Stingrays had 14 players kick goals
in what is starting to be a regular occurrence and a pleasing aspect of the
Stingrays scoring pattern. The multiple avenues to goals and the many different
types of goals with defenders and mids kicking them on the run, tall forwards
taking contested marks and converting a few goals from crumbs augers well for
the Stingrays.
Next Saturday, May 8th
the Stingrays host the Western Jets, the game starts at 11.00 am at Shepley
Oval, Dandenong and entry is free.
Last Modified on 02/05/2010 20:45