The Dandenong Southern Stingrays let a real opportunity to get their season off to a positive start when the dropped a very winnable game against the Bendigo Pioneers at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo last Saturday night.
As part of a TAC Cup triple header the Stingrays traveled to Bendigo to play a twilight game against the winless Pioneers. Starting well, with a dominant midfield the Stingrays were very impressive and raced to a 4 goal lead by quarter time. A cohesive functioning forward line and players helping each other out all across the ground had many at the ground thinking how far the Stingrays.
The second quarter was the exact opposite of the first and the Stingrays were lucky to be in game at half time. The Pioneers had 15 shots at goal for the term and managed only 4 goals 11 and it was only a time on goal by Dan Wise that had the scores level at the long break. Very little defensive transition running by the midfield, forwards that played as selfish as possible and backs that could not win 1 on 1 contests meant that Stingrays Coach Graeme Yeats was pulling his hair out looking for answers. Yeats challenged his leaders to show the way and start to play some team football try and turn the game back in the Stingrays favour.
The third quarter started as a repeat of the first with the Stingrays controlling the game and drew out to a four goal lead half way through the term but late goals by the Pioneers had the Stingrays leading by a solitary goal at ¾ time. The last term was all Pioneers who peppered the goals but only managed 3 goals 7 and this kept the Stingrays in the game. 30 seconds to go the scores were level but a couple of poor decisions with the ball by the Stingrays and an inability to close down the last few seconds of the game saw the Pioneers mark just inside 50 as the siren sounded. The resulting 50m goal had the home team winners and deserved ones at that. The Stingrays have to do some soul searching to rediscover the passion and desire to play as a TEAM instead of individuals looking for personal glory.
Some good signs to come out of the game were the performance of Myles Pitt who kicked 5 goals in his second game of TAC Cup football, Andrew Hunters work rate through CHF was exceptional and the games of Ash Smith and Tom Scully through the mid field were encouraging. Next Sunday the Stingrays are off to NAB Oval in Preston to tackle the Northern Knights in what will be a test of character of the playing group and a must win game for the Stingrays if they are to establish some momentum for the season ahead.
Last Modified on 18/07/2008 12:33