The drama started when the goal umpires took a goal off the score of the Gold Coast at ¾ time and narrowed the margin to 8 points in favour of the Gold Coast. In a desperate nail biting final stanza the scoreboard had the scores locked on 8-11-59 apiece when Jake Mold earned a free kick only seconds before the final siren 25m out on an acute angle. Everyone on the ground new that any score would win it for the Stingrays and as he slotted the behind the Stingrays players went crazy. It seemed to be a win for the ages with state representation and school football decimating the Stingrays, a trip to Queensland
to take on a full strength Gold Coast seemed like mission impossible.
The Gold Coast officials demanded to see the match vision which clearly showed the Gold Coast kicking 4 goals in the third quarter instead of what the umpires had recorded which was only three goals. The result was then changed after consultation with club and TAC Cup officials some 40 minutes after the game to a Gold Coast win by 5 points even though the umpires had indicated all clear at the end of the game. The result has now been referred to AFL Victoria’s operations manager John Hook for a final determination on the result along with a couple of other controversial goal umpiring interpretations.
It is easy to get caught up in the melodrama of the result but it was the brave and never say die attitude of the undermanned Stingrays that was the main story. With 9 players who took part in Round 1 unavailable, it was the efforts of the older players with their leadership and on field control combined with the energy and enthusiasm of the Stingrays younger brigade that was a highlight for Coach Graeme Yeats. Efforts of courage and gut running when under extreme pressure from the bigger and physically stronger Gold Coast players and the repeated attack and counter attack of the Stingrays had everyone at the ground suitably impressed.
Better players for the Stingrays were mid-fielders Madison Andrews, Will Petropolous, Stefan Baumgartner and Luke Parker and defenders Dylan Roberton
and Jarryd Amalfi led the way but the best 6 were hard to name as any one of another half dozen could have been included.
Seven of the Stingrays participated in the Vic Country and Vic Metro second round of selection trials for the up coming National Under 18 carnival. Ryan Bastinac, James and Mitch Hallahan, Myles Pitt, Matthew Shaw and Corey Millard all suited up for Vic Country with Tom Scully
representing Vic Metro. The final squad for the first game of the Nationals will be named following the game.
Next weekend has the Stingrays host the Calder Cannons at Shepley Oval, Dandenong on Saturday 23rd at 11.00am followed by a clash between the Bendigo Pioneers and Gippsland Power in a TAC Cup double header and entry is free.