By JARROD POTTER
TAC CUP – ROUND 7 REVIEW
THE streak has been broken.
Falling for the first time at the seventh hurdle of the TAC Cup season, Dandenong Stingrays gave the high-flying Murray Bushrangers too many chances on Saturday at Wangaratta.
Whether it was the drive up there, or the pressure of the big clash, whatever the case may be Dandenong failed to hold onto possession and carelessly gave prime free kicks.
Dandenong’s trademark attack on the football was severely lacking, with the ladder leaders looking lethargic and missing for significant parts of the match. Murray collected the lion’s share of possession around the ground, and Dandenong was simply unable to keep up, giving away undisciplined free kicks and making poor decisions.
Despite the turnovers and Murray chances, Dandenong was well in it throughout the day.
Goalsneak Sam Fowler (three goals) had a chance to take the lead in the dying stages … but his attempt smashed into the post, leaving the Stingrays to taste its first defeat of 2016.
“Murray Bushrangers are a good side this year – even with New South Wales and schoolkids out,” Dandenong coach Craig Black said. “They pressured us well and really used it well and we gave them too many uncontested marks.
“We didn’t use the ball well going forward which is unlike us – it’s one of our big strengths.
“Sammy Fowler hit the post with 45 seconds to go – if that goes through we probably win the game, but these are the chances we had.
“I thought our first half was pretty good, third quarter was below par, and our fourth was good, but we gave away five goals from free kicks or direct turnovers – and it’s hard to win if you do that against any team.”
Black praised ruckman Mitch McCarthy – saying it was his ‘best game for the year’ – while Matt LaFontaine, Aaron Darling and Mason DeWit equally fought hard for the Rays.
With a TAC Cup bye this weekend, on account of Vic Country and Vic Metro trial games and camp, the Stingrays have two weeks to rest up and get back to business in a top-of-the-table clash against the Geelong Falcons at Shepley Oval.
Black believes the side will be well represented, but encouraged those who aren’t picked to stay the course and keep working hard as you never what can happen.
“I hope we have a fair number in there – typically the last few years we’ve been well represented at Vic Country but there’s unfortunately always boys who are playing good footy but don’t get a look in,” Black said. “They might get a game later but it’s harder now that it’s four games instead of six – that would limit the opportunities there.
‘But (Bulldogs forward) Bailey Dale and (Melbourne midfielder) Clayton Oliver didn’t play – so as long as those kids who don’t get a chance come back and work hard then there’s still a chance later on.”
TAC CUP SCOREBOARD
MURRAY 2.5 5.8 8.10 9.13 (67)
DANDENONG 4.3 7.6 7.9 9.9 (63)
MURRAY Goals: B. Cooper 3, L. Tiziani 2, B. Paton, D. Johnston, C. Welsh, R. Bruce. Best: J. Cousins, L. Pinnuck, B. Paton, W. Donaghey, D. Hemphill, F. Bollinghaus.
DANDENONG Goals: S. Fowler 3, A. Darling, T. De Koning, D. Allsop, M. La Fontaine, M. Kleverkamp, M. Poholke. Best: M. McCarthy, M. DeWit, M. La Fontaine, A. Darling, R. Piper, S. Fowler.
