By JARROD POTTER
TAC CUP – ROUND 10 PREVIEW
STRENGTHENING their lines ahead of a bogey match against regional rivals Gippsland, Dandenong Stingrays have been boosted by the return of injured and representative powerhouses.
Dandenong will get a battalion of strong Stingrays returning to the TAC Cup ranks as big-bodied midfielders Bailey Rice and Kurt Mutimer resume their TAC Cup journeys after featuring for Vic Country.
While Dandenong will lose two players to the representative ranks – with Mitch Cox and Brandon White both significant outs from the Stingrays’ 19-point win over Northern – Dandenong coach Craig Black said the ins more than level out the line-up.
“It’s good to get a couple of players like Ricey and Kurt back to the Stingrays,” Black said.
“We lose from that game Coxy (Mitch Cox) and Brandon White to Vic Country, so we think it’s a good replacement – two pretty good players for us go to Vic Country and two come back who play pretty similar roles.
“Ricey hurt his shoulder and didn’t play at all in the last game and Kurt has played three games and been very consistent in those games and, hopefully, they both go back to Vic Country for the last two games.”
Also back in the line-up is 204cm ruckman Jayden Bubb who has fought his way back into the roster from a knee injury to while Narre Warren’s goal-sneak Cory Machaya has shrugged off a groin injury that’s kept him sidelined since round six.
The duo made their way back into the TAC Cup through local footy in the South East Football League under-19s competition.
“Jayden had a knee injury and went and played a game at Beacy with the under-19s and it’s good to have him back,” Black said.
“Bubb will likely start in the ruck and “Cory was in good form for us early in the year and missed three or four weeks with a groin injury – but got a good game under the belt at Narre.
“We wouldn’t pick them if we didn’t think they could come in and be at their best.”
After a season opening wake-up call delivered by Gippsland – a 5.9 (39) to 14.10 (94) shellacking – Black said the loss has inspired the group to work harder and the results have been evident with six-wins-a-loss in the last seven rounds.
“The round one game made us really step up our focus and we’ve played some really good footy since then,” Black said.
“Both teams look a little different and the personal will be different and it’s always a fierce contest with Gippy and this Saturday will be no different.
“Hopefully, our boys stand up and can put up a good performance.”
Dandenong and Gippsland will wear orange shoelaces as part of the Step Back Think campaign to stamp out social violence and prevent needless injuries and deaths from king hits and coward punches.
“It’s a really good initiative to go through the TAC Cup ’cause a lot of these guys are 16 and come into the system and they have got to be accountable for their actions all the way through as they get scrutinised a fair bit,” Black said.
“I think they’re good role models to help with this campaign.”
Dandenong hosts Gippsland Power at Shepley Oval from 1pm on Saturday.
DANDENONG STINGRAYS LINE-UP
B: Stoffels J. Rouse, Batten; HB: Pickess, McKay, Rice; C: Turnbull, Mutimer, La Fontaine; HF: Warke, Freeman, Young; F: MacHaya, Bubb, Williams; R: Prior, Cox, Di PasqualeInt (from): Stewart, Downie, Nicholson, Kiely, Roscoe, Gladman, Kleverkamp*, (23rd man) Raso, Beveridge.
