The Dandenong Southern Stingrays have gone to the big dance for the third time in its history and for the third time has gone home as a bachelor, alone and deflated. This time the Stingrays succumbed to the might and power of the Murray Bushrangers who have been the pace setters and class outfit of the TAC Cup for season 2008.
The Stingrays had the honour of playing as a curtain raiser to the VFL Grand Final at Telstra Dome which alone will be an experience that the Stingrays players will remember for a long time to come. Starting with plenty of spirit, the Stingrays opened the scoring with two crumbing goals from Myles Pitt and Chris Doria but the move of star Bushranger Jack Zeibell into the midfield paid immediate dividends as he set up three of the Bushrangers 5 first term goals, three to superstar in the making, Steele Sidebottom as an entrée to a game of the ages from the young gun.
The Stingrays were just in the game at the first change, behind by 21 points but it was a couple of work rate and desperation indicators that told a truer tale of the disparity between the two teams. The Bushrangers were leading contested possessions 50 to 30, inside 50’s 17 to 6 and clangers 5 to the Stingrays 21 for the first quarter. The second term was once again dominated by the Bushrangers as they extended their lead out to 35 points at the long break. The Stingrays were under a lot of pressure but did not help their cause with some fundamental skill errors that were usually converted into scores by the polished Bushranger outfit.
A halftime shuffle of the deckchairs made little difference as the third term went the same way as the first half. Sidebottom headed from his dominant position in the mid field to the forwardline where he once again smashed the small Stingrays defenders to post another four majors to have 8 by ¾ time and the Bushranger lead had blown out to over 10 goals. The Stingrays were being well served by the reliable Tom Gillies at full back, Levi Casboult who was brave and tried his guts out in the Ruck, Tom Scully who single handedly carried the small man department of the Stingrays mid field and Chris Doria who battled away as a small forward.
The last term was a bit of junk time with the only real interest in whether Sidebottom would kick a personal tally of ten goals; which he eventually did. Of the Stingrays, Steven Gaertner was lively once moved away from his usual position of CHB into the Ruck, Scott Sienkiewicz was one midfielder who worked both ways and finished his season off well as did Michael Hibberd who never stopped trying. The bottom line was that the team that finished four games clear at the end of the home away was by far the best team in the comp and showed their true class on the big stage. The Stingrays can be truly proud of their achievements for season 2008 after a slow start, got on a roll to finish the season in 2nd place but were comprehensively rolled by a better team. Coach Graeme Yeats spoke at length after the game about the efforts of the whole season and thanked the players for their work and dedication and the staff, parents and sponsors of the club for their unquestioned support and tireless work.
Last Modified on 30/09/2008 09:52