The run of high standard close games between the Dandenong Southern Stingrays and Gippsland Power continued last weekend with a come from behind 14 point victory to the Stingrays in the TAC Cup Qualifying final at Visy Park, Carlton.
With the aid of a slight breeze the Power could have shot the game to pieces in the first term with their 18 inside 50’s resulting in 2 goals seven compared with the Stingrasy 1-2 into the breeze. Gippsland’s gun mid fielders in Ed Carr, Russell Lehmann and Mitchell Dowse were reaping the Ruck dominance of Nathan Vardy and repeatedly had the Stingrays defenders under the pump with quick transfer of play from the mid field forward. James Hallahan, Dylan Roberton, Andrew McInnes and Matt Shaw had to be very good for the Stingrays in the backline to keep their team in the game.
The second term was very even with both teams kicking 3 goals with two of the Stingrays majors coming from defenders Matt Clifford and Shaw pushing forward to create options. Levi Casboult was again in good touch both as a marking forward and in the Ruck as he bought on-ballers Madison Andrews, Ryan Bastinac, Rohan Kerr and Luke Parker into the game. Tom Scully was efficient and effective on the Wing but not dominating so Coach Graeme Yeats injected his run into the mid field.
The Scully move and a tightening up of the mid field defence by the Stingrays kept them close enough if good enough and the 12 point ¾ time deficit of the Stingrays was erasable if they got off to a good start in the last term. The good start was led by Scully as he racked up around 40 touches in a best on ground performance and co-captain Ryan Bastinac from the mid field. The Stingrays kicked 6 goals to 2 in the last term with Casboult kicking two from contested marks and one each from the other key tall forwards Myles Pitt and Corey Millard who returned from an extended injury spell with one of his best games for the year.
Stingrays coach Graeme Yeats was very pleased with the evenness of the contribution from all his players who ran hard for the whole game and eventually converted opportunities into scores. The Stingrays backline of Roberton, James Hallahan, Shaw and McInnes, who had the tough job of curtailing Gun Power forward John Butcher, were excellent all day and certainly had a lot to do with the Stingrays win. Next weekend is a welcome weekend off for the Stingrays before they play in a Preliminary final on Saturday 19th at Visy Park, Carlton.
Last Modified on 06/09/2009 22:26