THE Dandenong Stingrays continued their bad run of form on Saturday making it three losses in a row and a real possibility they will miss September action for 2013.
With both sides having players out for Vic Country and Vic Metro championships it was a time for Stingrays players to push for a permanent spot, which unfortunately not many did.
Applying intense pressure from the opening bounce, the Knights created plenty of diamonds in the form of goals as they booted the opening four majors of the match and set the tempo for the rest of the game.
It was a team commitment to tackling and pressuring the Stingrays that brought the fruits, the Knights making 20 tackles stick in the opening term to help them open up a 21-point quarter-time advantage.
The Stingrays which are renowned for their physicality and their contested footy went completely missing, with the Knights being first to the ball.
The second quarter was more like the first with overlapping running and precise kicking that undone the Stingrays defenses allowing the Knights too many easy conversions, as well as being kept goalless by a very disciplined Knights outfit.
The Knights lead was extended to 48 points at half-time, with the Stingrays being restricted to 6 scoring shots, with only two of those being majors.
At the long break a fired up Stingrays Coach Graeme Yeats belted out numerous instructions on how to fix the basic fundamental mistakes.
He also added, “the few things missing today are ones that doesn’t require talent....the ability to will yourself to the next contest to make it a 50/50 or a 60/40 and to stick the tackles, or more to the point lay one!”
The positive for the Stingrays is they responded from the spray and finished the day with five goals to three in the second half.
The other positives from a pretty disappointing day was Angus Scott gained miles into his legs as he was one of the few midfielders who were prepared to run and carry as well as work back in defence, whilst 17 year old players in Jake Wilson, Jack Lonie and Taylor Joyce once again giving their all and showing they will be good players in 2014.
Next week the Stingrays face one of the toughest road trip games as they take on the Murray Bushrangers in Wangaratta on Saturday 11.00am at Norm Minns Oval in what could be a season defining game.
Last Modified on 11/09/2013 13:17