By Hayley Wildes
The Dandenong Stingrays are the 2018 TAC Cup Premiers.
After 27 years and five grand final losses, the Stingrays finally claimed their maiden TAC Cup Premiership at IKON Park on Saturday afternoon.
With the rampant Oakleigh Chargers standing between them and the trophy, the Rays rose to the occasion when it mattered most.
Riley Bowman booted the first goal of the game after a tremendous second effort tackle for which he was rewarded with a shot on goal.
Despite the best efforts of Lachlan Young and Daniel Frampton in defence, Oakleigh held a seven-point lead at the first break.
The second quarter was when the Rays made their premiership move. Of course, it was co-captain Campbell Hustwaite who led from the front.
He was on the bottom of packs, running out of packs and tackling as if his life depended on it.
Bailey Williams put through his first major of the day at the four-minute mark, then the speedy Jai Taylor inspired his teammates with a chase down tackle in the middle of the ground, leading to a Toby Bedford goal.
Just two minutes later, Hustwaite ran through the middle of the ground, drove the ball deep forward and Ed Cahill snuck through another Dandenong major.
It was a four-minute stretch of football that gave Dandenong the confidence it could execute its game plan against the loaded Chargers.
The Rays held a 14-point lead at half time, 38-24.
Oakleigh kicked a goal just one minute into the third term, but the Rays responded.
Finlay Bayne got on the scoreboard, and then 40 seconds later Lachlan McDonnell slotted a beautiful running goal to have Dandenong 21 points in front.
The third quarter turned into a complete arm-wrestle and with 25 minutes of football left in the season, the Rays had a 23-point lead.
With 12 minutes to play, Dandenong held a 29-point lead, but the Chargers weren’t done and after a Jack Ross goal with five minutes left to play, Oakleigh was just 12 points adrift.
Oakleigh’s Dylan Williams snapped a goal with two-and-a-half minutes remaining and it was just a goal the difference.
The final couple of minutes were frantic, but Dandenong’s defence stood tall and simply wouldn’t allow the Chargers to get the goal they so desperately craved.
The Rays held on for a thrilling six-point win, claiming their maiden premiership in the club’s sixth grand final appearance, 12.8 (80) to 11.8 (74).
