The Dandenong Southern Stingrays TAC Cup season is over after a disappointing 9 point loss in the preliminary final against the perennially strong Oakleigh Chargers at Visy Park, Carlton last Saturday.
The game was exceptionally high in standard with both teams full of potential AFL draftees. Dandenong, buoyed by the week off following a narrow win over minor premiers the Calder Cannons in the first week of the finals, looked ominous early kicking the first two goals of the game. However, in a manner fitting of the afternoon Oakleigh responded to enter quarter time with a one point lead. Despite warm and sunny conditions, the wind proved a decisive factor, with a strong breeze blowing consistently across the ground providing its own difficulties for both teams. The Chargers were the aggressors early in the second term, kicking the first three goals which gave them a game high 20 point lead before the Stingrays once again kept the game in check putting scoreboard pressure on late in the half. At Half time Oakleigh had slightly stretched their lead to 7 points.
Oakleigh appeared to hold the ascendency in the third term before a Dandenong purple patch led by Morrish Medallist and dual captain Alex Benbow in the middle and key goals to Jason Salopek and Jake Calvert cut the deficit to five points. Dandenong's Brett O'Hanlon asserted himself strongly in a tense final quarter kicking two important goals early in the last term. O'Hanlon's second major gave the Stingrays their first lead of the half before Chargers took back the lead at the 10-minute mark. Despite the game remaining close in the ensuing minutes, Oakleigh would hold on to record a memorable nine point preliminary final win, with Nick Murphy's goal, coming as a result of a 50 metre penalty, sealing the victory in the matches latter stages. 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.
Whilst a grand final appearance or a premiership would have been the icing on the cake, the year for the Stingrays overall was exceptional. Finished the TAC Cup season in 4th position. Matthew Buntine and Alex Benbow in the TAC Cup Team of the Year and Graeme Yeats named as TAC Cup coach of the year. Alex Benbow won the Morrish Medal for 2011 and Lachie Whitfield named All Australian. 10 players represented Vic Country in the Under 18 NAB AFL championships and another 4 Under 16’s represented Vic Country in their age group. Four players; Lachie Whitfield, Jason Pongracic, Clayton McCartney and Billy Hartung were named in the 2012 AFL AIS Academy squad on the back of Todd Elton, Lachie Whitfield and Matthew Buntine this year. Five Stingrays players will be attending the AFL Draft combine at Etihad Stadium and another three 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 21/09/2011 15:22