Rays scrape through

By Paul Pickering
THE Dandenong Stingrays were content to win ugly against Oakleigh on Saturday.
A one-point win over the in-form Chargers was enough to secure third place and a double chance in the finals, setting up a mouth-watering qualifying final against Gippsland this weekend.
More importantly, the dogged performance gave Dandenong a timely morale boost after a month-long slump that had threatened to derail its season.
Stingrays coach Graeme Yeats asked his group to toughen up after last week’s loss to Northern and duly praised his charges for their response on Saturday.
“They were gritty, determined and played with a lot of spirit,” Yeats reflected.
“The last month has been a bit flat for us, but I think we saw a change in attitude last week and it certainly showed in the way we played.
“This will give us a bit of confidence, and I think there’s more to come.”
The wet and wintry conditions at Oakleigh’s Warrawee Park demanded an uncomplicated style of footy and, in contrast to recent weeks, the Rays looked hungry in the opening minutes.
The Chargers, who needed a win to snatch a finals berth, booted the first goal, but Dandenong quickly gained the ascendancy through majors to Levi Casboult (35 hit-outs), Tom Scully and Riley Heddles.
Heddles hunted the ball – and his opponents – like a man possessed in the first term, setting the standard with his desperation and defensive pressure.
The Rays took an eight-point lead into the quarter-time huddle, but the Chargers – led by ball-winners Sam Shaw, Andrew Gaff and Jayden Hoegel – upped their rating through the middle in the second.
It took three brilliant goals from Adam Treloar, Ryan Bastinac and Myles Pitt to keep the hosts at bay.
Neither side gave an inch in the third term, prompting a lengthy stalemate before towering Oakleigh ruckman Pat McMahon goaled to give his side the lead late in the quarter.
Dandenong defender Dylan Roberton and wingman Nathan Allen were both prominent in the second half, but it took an act of bravery from midfielder Jake Mold to spark them.
Mold was knocked out in a sickening head-clash when he attacked a ground ball midway through the final term.
When play resumed, Mitch Hallahan converted from apin-point Luke Parker pass, then Treloar snapped a stunning 40m goal in traffic to give his side a seven-point lead in the dying moments.
Oakleigh’s Stuart Johns providing the answering goal, only for the siren to sound before the umpire could bounce the ball.
There was minimal fanfare from the Rays after the game, but Yeats was satisfied that his side is back on track.
“I was just happy that we played a really tough brand of footy that we know we need to play in the finals,” he said.
Dandenong registered a season-high 91 tackles for the afternoon in a consummate team performance. Treloar (two goals, 18 disposals), Bastinac (25 disposals), Roberton (23) and Allen (17) were among the Rays’ most damaging players.
Yeats reckons his players will relish another crack at local rival Gippsland, which upstaged the Rays at Shepley Oval three weeks ago.
“We played them last year in the prelim and they’re always tight games against Gippsland,” he said.
“It’s always tight, physical and a real challenge for both teams.”
Gippsland will be without star midfielder Koby Stevens (osteitis pubis), who was the catalyst for the Power’s round 18 victory.
The Stingrays-Power clash, beginning at 2pm, will be the second game of the TAC Cup double-header at Visy Park on Saturday.