Rays’ heart

By Gavin Staindl
DANDENONG Stingrays’ fixture for the 2011 TAC Cup has been released, with a tantalising round one encounter against rivals Gippsland Power set to spark early interest.
The early match-up against last year’s grand finalists will be a stern test for Graeme Yeates’ troops who will also play finalists North Ballart, Geelong and Oakleigh twice during the year.
But it is the opening six rounds that will have the Stingrays on edge.
With only one home game in the opening four rounds, the Stingrays will hit the road to face Gippsland, North Ballarat and Geelong before returning home to face the Oakleigh Chargers.
Throw in a round six away match against the Northern Knights and it means the opening six weeks will pit the minor premiers against the rest of last year’s top four – not that Yeates is concerned.
“Historically we’ve been good early so it will be a good challenge for us,” Yeates said.
“I don’t look too much into the fixture but no doubt we’ll have to be sharp to get results early,” he said.
Of the 17 rounds, Dandenong will play seven at home at Shepley Oval and a further three games at the state-of-the-art Highgate Recreation Reserve, home of the Coburg Tigers.
Though from a travel perspective the Stingrays have struck it lucky.
The Stingrays, who travelled as far as New South Wales last year, will only make long treks to Ballarat and Morwell in 2011.
“We haven’t got those far venues to contend with so we’re happy with that,” Yeates said.