Report by Mitch Brown
The Dandenong Southern Stingrays’ kept their top 4 chances alive by grinding out a scrappy 7 point win against the Calder Cannons at Rams Arena, Craigeburn on Saturday.
In what were very trying conditions prior to the day with the sad passing of Phil Walsh, it was made a lot tougher with the howling wind, rain and arctic like temperature playing havoc for both teams.
It was the Stingrays who won the toss electing to kick with the breeze in a hope to close the game out from the start, but wasted opportunities in front of goal lead Stingrays Coach Craig Black to release a spray at quarter time, as players huddled and shivered in the tense 5 minute break.
The Stingrays booted one-goal-nine in a horror first term, Cory Machaya was the only player to capitalise on the breeze in the first term, kicking the single goal compared to the nine other shots wasted by the Stingrays.
The Calder Cannons used the wind much better kicking 3 goals seizing the lead and send the Stingrays back in at half-time questioning their intensity and use of the ball, as silly errors had crept into the game.
They say the third quarter is the premiership quarter and with the Talls and small working better as a collective unit led superbly by James “Jimmy” Freeman (three goals) and Josh Battle proved a tough assignment for the Cannons.
Cory Machaya adapted to the testing conditions, with his clean hands, lightening side step slotted one, along with goals to Myles Poholke and a magnificent Liam McKay shot from the boundary line, taking back the lead and eventually having a 27 point buffer as the siren sounded.
A lot of the scoring was set up from Robert Turnbull and Sam Pickess who were playing a pivotal roll across the half backline, whilst the mids starting getting back on top in the middle with big Jayden Bubb giving the side first use.
In the last quarter Black and his team asked for a special effort from the group. It would take Gutrun and determination in the freezing, slippery conditions, this was going to be a huge effort as the wind lifted and rain tumbled, but somehow the Stingrays managed to break the Highgate hoodoo of not being able to win, holding on after a very strong team effort.
The Cannons peppered the points as soon as the final siren blew, but the Stingrays defence stood tall repelling time after time. The Cannons eventually broke through around the 9 minute mark kicking two goals in succession, before Darcy Warke stole the show as he crumbed a match defining goal against the flow.
The Stingrays coaches couldn’t relax though as the Cannons weren’t done from there. Two more goals flew for the home side in the dying minutes to bring the margin back to seven points, but the Cannons couldn’t finish it off, it was a gallant performance from both sides.
“There was a lot of wind blowing to one end and was really wet – so it was a hard slog,” Dandenong coach Craig Black said. “We defiantly didn’t take the opportunities in the first quarter,kicking one goal nine, which really kept them in the game longer than they should have been.”
“To the Cannons credit they challenged us not only in front of the goals, but leading us to the Lose ball, their intensity and pressure was much better across the day.”
Black finished by saying “ We had a good third quarter – Josh Battle kicked a goal within thirty seconds and the forwards became dangerous as a unit– then in the last term we held them off which was a true character building game.”
Jake Lovett got through the match without incident – in his TAC Cup return following two months sidelined – while Berwick debutant Ryan Gains got through his first run around in the top league without issue.
The Stingrays this week have their biggest challenge to date in AFL Victoria’s’ TAC Cup, returning on Saturday 11th of July at Shepley Oval, with what most AFL recruiters as saying match of the round as they host the Murray Bushrangers who sit second on the ladder. The Game starts at 1.30pm, entry is free.
Both clubs have the return of all their state players and with a nearly full fit list for both clubs we should see where both clubs are as they start preparing for the pointy end of the season. It will see the much anticipated clash of Joshua Schache, Vic Country MVP and Jy Simpkin from Murray Bushrangers versus the dual defensive unit of Kieran Collins and Jacob Weitering, along Vic Country backline players Bailey Rice, Brandon White and Thomas Glen all returning for the Stingrays.
“There would be a few people waiting for this game – I suspect it should be good,” Black said. “Both teams are full strength and it’s at our home ground, which we look forward to, and look forward to the boys having a really tough fight and hopefully they’re up for the challenge.”
Last Modified on 05/07/2015 22:53