By JARROD POTTER
TAC CUP – round 18
NOW they’ll have to do it the hard way.
Dandenong gave up its double chance possibilities in the TAC Cup premiership race after a comprehensive 59-point beating at the hands of Geelong.
The Falcons showed who wanted the win most of all. Any Dandenong turnover through half-back or the centre of North Port Oval was converted seamlessly into an inside-50 or goal-attempt by the opposition.
Any Stingray fight back was immediately quashed by the Falcons’ fleet-footed midfielders – with the likes of Rhys Mathieson, Nick Dixon and Joe Maishman getting the jump in the centre.
Worse still was Dandenong’s inability to chase – a flawed trait carried over from last week at home that enabled Western Jets to run away with the victory.
Daylan Kempster had his hands full with likely first-round draft pick Pat McCartin, but kept the Falcons’ forward maestro to only three goals.
Aaron Wilson kept his head up all game to boot four goals and show a strong target up forward while debutants Harrison Prior and Sean Nicholson also toiled for the Stingrays.
Rourke Fischer also continued his strong showing towards finals – taking on the Falcons’ centre men with gusto – as Dandenong’s best afield alongside Kieran Collins and Blake Mullane.
“They’re a pretty good footy team,” Stingrays coach Craig Black said.
“They’re really good… their midfield really worked hard and took it on off half-back… and we helped by turning over the footy in the middle of the ground.
“The mistakes we made they capitalised on as well.”
The final ladder is almost set with Dandenong to finish either sixth or seventh. If Sandringham gets up over the Eastern Ranges on Sunday then Dandenong will face Western Jets in the finals. If the Ranges defeat the Dragons then the Stingrays will be Sandringham’s first finals opponent instead.
“We had some tough games of footy coming – if you look at our last four games we had Sandringham, Western Jets, Oakleigh and Geelong.” Black said.
“Geelong is as good as any team we’ve played this year and Western Jets have sewn up third spot as long as they win tomorrow (Sunday) – so we’ve probably played the top four teams in the last month.
“It will be a challenge for us next week, but it’s an exciting thing and regardless of the result today (Saturday), some teams don’t have next week but luckily we do.”
