By JARROD POTTER
TAC CUP – ROUND 11 PREVIEW
BRINGING back additional fire-power for a likely TAC Cup finals teaser, Dandenong has brought in the big guns to help fight back against the visiting North Ballarat Rebels.
The TAC Cup revolving door with national duties, school commitments or rest has just about ceased for another season, but this week’s Dandenong team sheet features an array of ins and outs.
Brandon White, Mitch Cox and Myles Poholke return from Vic Country’s sensational 28-point win over South Australia, with the Stingrays older, stronger midfielders back just in time for the highly anticipated Saturday clash.
“It’s great any time to get your so-to-speak better players from nationals – get them back when you have the opportunity is always great,” Black said.
While the incoming trio add stability to the midfield there remain a lot of Stingrays on the outer.
Jacob Weitering, Keiran Collins, Kurt Mutimer, Tommy Glen, Gach Nyuon (all resting or school football commitments) and Daniel Capiron (VFL) are all out of TAC Cup action this week.
More than anything the lads want to play, but Black said that to improve the Vic Country players needed to keep their workloads managed and occasionally take a dreaded week off.
“The 18-year-old kids they would play every day of the week if you’d allow them but we have to do the right thing with their game management,” Black said. “The boys coming back in we hope will be able to step right in and get the job done.”
Dandenong skipper Lachlan Williams is another exclusion from the side that knocked over Gippsland, as he recovers from an emergency appendectomy performed on Monday.“It’s a surprising one when I got the message for that one – we just hope he recovers well,” Black said.
“We’re not sure of the timeframe as he’s just been coming into good form, but I thought his weekend’s game was one of the better ones for the year.
“Hope he can come back and finish off the second half of the year strong for his sake and the team.”
Black said he’ll let Williams’ Stingrays lieutenants – Mitch Cox and Lachlan Batten – figure it out among themselves who will take the captaincy … and might let them settle it the old fashion way.
“We haven’t decided yet, but I’ll let them – our two vice-captains Mitch Cox and Lachie Batten – wrestle over it tonight (Thursday), that would be a good thing to see those competitive beasts going at it,” Black said.
On a more serious note, Black thought the match-up would prove a fitting challenge for both sides to go full tilt ahead of a TAC Cup bye.
“I think the guys – just like in every game in the TAC Cup – are just up for a challenge,” Black said.
“While both teams will have a lot of expected players out, last week was a good performance from both sides and both sides were missing quality players on both sides.
“Those guys that get the opportunity are giving 110 per cent to try and stay in the line-up and it should be a great clash.”
It will be an all Vic Country battle as the Stingrays duke it out with North Ballarat for bragging rights atop the TAC Cup ladder.
“We’re going into every game wanting to play our best and if we play our best we can match it with just about every team,” Black said.
“With a bye the following week, we’ll give our all and then if we make it through, we’ve only lost two games by the middle of the season, which is a great effort.”
After earning his debut last week, Max Kleverkamp will hold his spot as the 23rd man while Mt Eliza’s Ryan Odell retains his place after a strong first-up effort against Gippsland.
The match begins at 1.30pm at Dandenong’s home ground – Shepley Oval.
DANDENONG STINGRAYS – ROUND 11 LINE-UP
B: Batten, J. Rouse, Stoffels.
HB: Pickess, McKay, Rice.
C: White, Cox, Odell.
HF: Young, Freeman, Downie.
F: Gladman, Bubb, Poholke.
R: Prior, Kiely, Di Pasquale.
Int (from): Stewart, Kleverkamp* (23rd man), Holden, Warke, La Fontaine, Roscoe, MacHaya, Turnbull, Nicholson.
