Rays set to sting Geelong

By Paul Pickering
DANDENONG has set up a top-of-the-table clash with Geelong this weekend after brushing aside third-placed North Ballarat at Shepley Oval on Saturday.
The Stingrays looked every bit the flag contenders on their way to a 61-point win, punctuated by a stunning eight-goal final term.
But the decisive blow was landed in the third quarter, when the Rays defied a gale-force wind to kick four consecutive majors and snatch a 17-point lead at the last change.
Until then, the home side’s dominance at the stoppages had gone largely unrewarded as the Rays’ forwards struggled to come to terms with the gusty conditions.
Goalsneaks Will Petropoulos (three goals) and Rohan Kerr (three) looked dangerous on the ground, but it wasn’t until midway through the second quarter that strong-marking forward Myles Pitt (two) started to get his hands on the football.
Ruck/forward Levi Casboult (two, 16 disposals, 21 hit-outs) and athletic utility Matt Shaw (three) drifted inside 50 with devastating effect after half-time, while 16-year-old sensation Luke Parker (32 disposals) capped another best-on-ground outing with a stint on the wing.
It was a consummate team performance from the home side, with every player contributing to the relentless pressure that suffocated the Rebels.
That commitment was typified by second-year stars Riley Heddles and Madison Andrews, who combined to quell the influence of North Ballarat’s All-Australian dynamo – and reigning Larke medallist – Andrew Hooper (15 disposals).
Forward-cum-defender Andrew McInnes did a number on Vic Country key forward David Astbury, while James Hallahan continued his rich vein of form across half-back.
Skipper Ryan Bastinac (17 possessions) was relatively quiet, but his team-leading eight tackles provided an invaluable example to the likes of first-gamers Brock Osborne and Adam Treloar.
The Rebels were led by onballers Liam Hoy and Dean Gavin, while Astbury and Ben Peters finished with two goals apiece.
The second-placed Stingrays improved to 9-4 for the season ahead of Saturday’s trip down the highway to Kardinia Park.
Garry Hocking’s Falcons have been the benchmark of the TAC Cup competition in 2009, losing just one game – by a single point to Eastern in round 13.