The Dandenong Southern Stingrays continue to prove the experts wrong with a frantic 53 point win against the Geelong Falcons in the TAC Cup Semifinal, which was played on Sunday at Visy Park Carlton in slightly windy but perfect Spring like conditions.
The Flacons had the wood over the Stingrays in season 2014 with strong wins, the most recent a 10 goal win two weeks ago in the final home and away game. But a 20 goal turnaround from the last outing two weeks ago has plenty scratching their heads.
Even dominating early and matching the Stingrays on inside 50 entries it wasn’t to be the Falcons day with their season coming to a crashing end, with most experts having them easily through to next week to take on the Calder Cannons.
In perfect conditions the Stingrays kicked against the swirling breeze but defended gallantry denying the Falcons any goals, which would be the theme for the remainder of the day.
The start of the game was a low scoring affair, with the ball bouncing between the arcs until Aaron Wilson kicked truly for the first goal of the match from a coast to coast movement at the thirteen minute mark.
The Falcons were dominating the play and we went forward often enough, but they didn’t use the ball anywhere near good enough for TAC Cup level allowing the Stingrays defenders to pick off the high ball and continue to rebound it forward who in turn were wasting their opportunities.
Jack Lonie added the Stingrays second goal moments before the siren sounded giving the Stingray a 10 point led at the first break.
The second term was similar to the first with the game played at a fast pace with all goals being setting up from rebound entries. The first goal going to the Falcons after a poor inside 50 entry, but two quick replies went to the Stingrays before a 50 metre penalty allowed the Falcons to kick their second bringing the margin back to 2 straight kicks. It was shaping up for another cracking game.
The Stingrays playing group seemed to lift and movement inside the Stingrays 50 became more measured and direct with goals coming through Lachlan Williams and Mitch Cox to go to the long break with a handy 24 point led.
At half time Dandenong Stingrays Coach Craig Black asked his players to continue to take the game on, but directed them to lower their eyes more and look lateral for the spare and to honor the runners.
The Stingrays had led at every break, finally putting the game beyond doubt in the premiership quarter, powering away to establish a match-winning 40-point lead which they continued to increase that in the final term.
There was intense pressure around the uncontested ball and courage called upon time and time again, with the Stingrays playing group growing in confidence after numerous individual acts.
It was led by Dandenong’ Co Captain, the ever dangerous pocket dynamite Jack Lonie who did the damage kicking three of his five goals. The Falcons tried three different opponents on him in an attempt to nullify his influence but Lonie was back to his MVP Vic Country best slicing the opposition and stamping his mark on the big stage.
Jack was supported superbly by Tom Lamb who was dangerous wherever the coaches moved him to, kicking two beautiful goals. There were 7 other individual goal kickers, 5 being midfielders making it hard for any team to close down the scoring.
The Stingrays backline was solid all day with Kyle Gray and Mitch White raising their hands as key utilities, along with a match winning performance by Dan Moloney on the ever dangerous Alan Christensen limiting him to less than 10 possession and no goals which hasn’t been done many times this year.
Remarkably, the Falcons finished with 9 more inside 50 entries than the Dandenong Stingrays but they were unable to take their opportunities and that ended up being the difference in the finish.
The win now sees the Stingrays one win away from a back-to-back Grand Final appearances, which would be a huge effort after finishing outside the top 4.
This week’s game for the Stingrays is a repeat of last year’s Preliminary Final match against the Calder Cannons, which will be played at Visy Park, Carlton on Saturday 13th September at 11.30am. Entry is free.
After the game Stingrays Coach Black said, “Couldn’t be happier for the players at this stage…a few weeks ago they got a reality check, we the coaching group gave them the advice needed and for two weeks in a row they have followed our instructions to a tee.”
Black went onto say, “Today as the game went on I think we got better…we were lucky in the first half the Falcons didn’t put us away on the scoreboard as they had more of the footy and more inside 50’s…we did defended well though and take they missed probably two of their best players this year.”
“The boys will be sick of hearing it from me but I say to them if the effort is there the result will come….22 players gave us effort today so we now get to play in another round of finals where anything can happen, as long as we turn up to play.”
Last Modified on 08/09/2014 18:07