The Dandenong Southern Stingrays had another disappointing loss by a determined but undermanned Northern Knights in very heavy and slippery conditions at Preston Oval in the Round 6 TAC Cup contest.
With only a slight wind effecting the game, it was always going to be the team which worked hardest at controlling the ball at stoppages, defending stoutly and using the ball intelligently when going forward that was going to prevail. Aaron Lees and Robert Hill were out injured and a big loss on the morning of the game Todd Elton withdrew due to illness.
It was the Stingrays who started fastest and looked very dangerous with tall forwards Brett O’Hanlon, Adam Jaber and Adam Giobbi having an impact straight away. Max Gearon and Jason Pongracic were hard at the ball early and continuing to drive the ball in to keep the Knights defenders under huge pressure. Sloppy play resulted in an easy goal to the Knights. A long shot on goal to Adam Giobbi gave a small buffer but the Knights responded after some scrappy play from both sides. At quarter time the Stingrays trailed 2-1-13 to 2-2-14, but had a lot more of the ball than the Knights.
The second term was probably one of the worst quarters of football for the year for the Stingrays. The knights wanted the ball more and were hard at the contested ball. They also played smart wet weather football, whilst the Stingrays players were handballing the ball around like it was a dry day. The Stingrays defenders had their hands full as the Knights started to win plenty of ball through the centre of the ground and with little pressure used it well going forward and the Stingrays defenders were not playing close enough to their direct opponents. When the ball was in the Stingrays hands they didn’t use it effectively. At the end of the long break the Stingrays had been inside 50 23 times for a return of 3.3.21 while the Knights had gone in 16 times for a return of 5.5.35. Dandenong Coach Graeme Yeats was measured but pleaded with the team for a better effort with 12 players with less than 5 effective stats up until half time and no real impact on the game. Individuals were challenged to lift and contribute. It was time to go back to basics and give the forwards more of a chance when delivering the ball in and to stop handballing around in circles.
The third term started well with a nice roving goal to Jason Pongracic against wind which had picked up a little and was now worth 3 goals. Players had accepted the challenge and lifted their work rates and started having more of impact. There was still a lot of sloppy play due to the conditions but the ball was moving inside 50 a lot better. The Stingrays kept the Knights to 4 points for their 11 inside 50’s, whilst scoring a valuable goal against it. Both sides had lifted by the time the siren sounded. The end of the 3rd Quarter saw the Stingrays trail by 2 goals, but there was a beat in everyone’s step with the Stingrays yet again controlling most of the play and heading into the last with a 3 goal wind.
The last term saw the ball stay inside the Stingrays half for more than two thirds of the quarter, yet wasteful play, too many handballs once again and a lift in defensive pressure from the Knights the Stingrays were denied many times to add to the scoreboard. Finally, Dale Sutton crumbed brilliantly to bring the game to a within a straight kick, but after what seemed and eternity of the ball inside the forward half for the Stingrays poor skill execution allowed for some great rebound work by the Knights to kick a match winning goal. The day will be seen as one that got away, the third this year where the Stingrays have lost the game due to inefficient use of the ball when attacking.
Next weekend the TAC Cup has a bye for the upcoming U18 NAB AFL National Championship trial matches. 10 Stingrays players will be playing in a trial match for Vic Country against Vic Metro on Saturday 12.00pm at Visy Park, Carlton in hope to make the final 2011 squad.
Last Modified on 15/05/2011 22:32