By JARROD POTTER
TAC Cup – round 2
WRITTEN in blue ink on a whiteboard were these two simple words for the Dandenong Stingrays to play and abide by in its TAC Cup season opener.
The demands on the Stingrays after last year’s horror finish – downed 112 points by Eastern Ranges in the 2013 TAC Cup grand final – would have been great and the lads stood up to the challenge… eventually.
Under new coach Craig Black – the hard work he craved from the Stingrays didn’t show up in the first quarter-and-a-half. Dandenong was blown away by Gippsland as the Power extended its lead beyond 40 points at one stage and threatened to tear the Stingrays apart.
Little by little Dandenong turned the match around. Tom Lamb (six goals) was swung up forward to great effect as he clunked a number of contested marks. The run-and-carry from Alex Harnett and Mitchell White also kept the game moving while TAC Cup debuts continued promisingly as Tooradin-Dalmore ruckman Elliot Hunt showed he belonged at the level with a hit-out spree.
The run on came late in the second quarter as goals to Wheeler, Wilson and Lamb revived the Rays.
After half-time Dandenong was dominion, with three quick goals levelling the once heavily-lopsided score-line.
Showing the brave characteristics necessary for a captain – Daniel Capiron was involved in a collision reminiscent of a car crash – spinning around twice in the air after a shoulder-to-shoulder hit with a Power player, but he brushed off the knock to get up under his own strength.
Gippsland’s kicking efficiency would have kept the Power awake on Saturday night – kicking 1.7 in the last term to squander a 28-to-19 scoring shot advantage to walk away without the points
Gippsland squeezed a late goal to bring the match back to two points and eventually kicked a point with mere moments left in the game.
Dandenong would hold on by a solitary point as the siren blared – in what seemed like an eternity – to spell an end to a thrilling season opener.
“I thought early on we had opportunities but going forward we didn’t kick the ball that well,” Black said.
“To the boys credit they fought back hard to get back into the game.
“Sam Geurts, Keiran Collins and Jacob Weitering proved defensively invulnerable – clutching any high ball that floated their way and rebounding strongly to impress on debut.
“For a 17-year-old who hasn’t played a game at this level to go back and show the composure and mark the footy – and Jacob Weitering – they (Power) kept bombing the ball in and our boys stood up,” Black said.
Even with his first TAC Cup match and win in the bag now, the result for Black meant more for his charges to grit their teeth and get back into the clash.
“Little bit nervous before the game but to win by a point, I was really happy for the boys – 42 points down to be able to work ourselves back into the game then win the game so I’m more happy for them,” Black said.
Dandenong heads to Simonds Stadium on Saturday to face Geelong from 2pm.
