The Dandenong Southern Stingrays TAC Cup season is over after a disappointing 27 point loss in the preliminary final against the perennially strong Calder Cannons at Visy park, Carlton last Saturday.
The game was exceptionally high in standard with both teams full of potential AFL draftees. The Stingrays started well with running goals in the first term to Tom Curren, Luke Parker, Brad Tagg and Mitch Hallahan and skipped out to a 13 point lead at the first break. Another 3 goals to 2 in the second term extended the lead to 17 points but the signs were starting to appear that the Cannons were a long way off a spent force. The Cannons missed a few easy shots at goal which would have had the teams deadlocked at the long break. After half time the Stingrays had plenty of chances and early in the third term had established 25 point lead only to capitulate and allow the Cannons to kick 9 unanswered goals before a late long bomb from key forward revelation Tom Lynch in time on in the last term. The game was won and lost in the mid field as the Stingrays had 8 players who went through the centre with 12 or less possessions. On the other hand the Cannons top six possession winners all had over 20 and were all mid fielders.
Whilst a grand final appearance or a premiership would have been the icing on the cake, the year for the Stingrays overall was exceptional. TAC Cup minor premiers, TAC Cup leading goal kicker in Corey Buchan with 48 goals, Andrew McInnes, Mitch Hallahan and Luke Parker in the TAC Cup Team of the Year, a record 10 players played in the Vic Country Under 18 team with Mitch Hallahan and Adam Treloar named All Australian and another 10 Under 16’s represented Vic Country in their age group. Three players; Lachie Whitfield, Todd Elton and Matt Buntine were named in the 2011 AFL AIS Academy squad on the back of Luke Parker, Dylan Shiel and Adam Treloar this year. Seven Stingrays players will be attending the AFL Draft combine at the AIS in Canberra and another two players attending the state combine screening in Melbourne. Team success is only part of the Stingrays key performance indicators; the ultimate goal is to expose as many players at as high a level possible to be looked at a potential AFL recruits and to that indicator, the Stingrays season has been very successful.
Last Modified on 11/09/2010 17:06
