The Dandenong Southern Stingrays finally broke the drought against the Western Jets in season 2014, with a 15 point win in the TAC Cup Elimination final, which was played on Sunday at Visy Park Carlton in slightly windy but sunny conditions.
With tough calls made at the selection mid- week the coaching staff believed they had the right mix to match the Jets on the back of two ripping games in the home away season leaving both games down to the wire with the Jets taking the honors both times.
It was the start no one was expecting, apart from Dandenong Stingrays Coach Craig Black who dove into his bag of tricks moments before the players were due to start the game inviting parents and siblings into the room for the final pep talk to the players. It was spine tingling as the players left entering the arena walking on air keen to live up to the promises made by the collective 22.
The intent was there for the Stingrays from the first bounce with the midfield clearing deep inside fifty time after time giving the forwards every opportunity to pepper the scoreboard, which unlike previous weeks kicking truly adding scoreboard pressure to the opposition.
The Jets kicked their first and only goal late in the first quarter and were lucky not to be further behind after many misses on goal by the every pressing Stingrays brigade, leaving them 19 points down at the end of the first siren.
The second quarter saw the Jets upping their intensity and taking most of their chances in front of goal to get within a kick, before the Stingrays added goals and gather much needed breathing space to lead by 10 points at half time.
In the third quarter goals were a premium, with both sides only managing to add two apiece through hard work. There was intense pressure around the uncontested ball and courage called upon time and time again.
The only way to get through the defenses came down to those willing to run the lines and making some match winning decision’s by foot, allowing some overlapping running to cut up the backline. By the time the siren sounded the Stingrays had won the quarter on the scoreboard by expending the lead to 11 points.
The huge crowds around the huddles were expecting to hear the perfect talk given by the coaches, at the end of the day both delivered the same message saying “the next 25 minutes could be the last time many of you play together and wear the jumper…it is now or never!”
It was the Stingrays who took the challenge within the first minute, with Harnett scrapping in the middle to get a very unattractive kick into the forward line giving Tom Lamb the opportunity to take a huge grab and kick truly on the 50.
Over the next ten minutes it was the best display of hard at it, end to end football with both sides’ defenses under the pump.
The Jets kicked a couple of majors in row to get back within a kick, before the Stingrays kicked away once again on the back of some brilliant defensive acts finishing with goals to Daniel Capiron and two goals from an impressive display from bottom age player Jacob Weitering.
The win sees the Stingrays up for a hard-fought Semi- Final match against the ever dangerous Geelong Falcons at Visy Park, Carlton on Sunday 7th September at 11.30am. The Stingrays will be keen to amend their last outing against the Falcons two weeks ago who completely dominated the game after half time and winning by 10 goals.
After the game Stingrays Coach Black said, “As a club we couldn’t have asked for a better start, we played as a team something that had been missing for a few games – their intent was there from the get-go.”
“We always say if the effort is there the result will come, we applied it for four quarters which I am pleased for the group as we now to get to play in another round of finals where anything can happen, as long as we turn up to play.”
Last Modified on 03/09/2014 19:36