By JARROD POTTER
TAC CUP – ROUND 13
WHAT was touted as a defining match in sorting out the TAC Cup puzzle this season turned out to be a straight forward solution for the Dandenong Stingrays.
Murray’s competitiveness arrived a couple of hours too late when it battled Dandenong on Saturday afternoon – the visitors could only muster five behinds up until the half.
Dandenong’s defensive end – led by All Australians Keiran Collins and Jacob Weitering – negated any forward momentum from Murray and the Stingrays’ midfield group similarly clamped down on anything wearing the Bushies’ colours.
The highly anticipated Weitering/Collins versus Josh Scache All-Australian super battle was well and truly claimed by the Stingrays.
Outside of a three-goal barrage in the third term, Murray was left embarrassed by Dandenong’s better teamwork and their ability to spread and run in waves.
While the Vic Country contingent relished their first time back in the Stingrays’ ranks for a while, with Brandon White, Kurt Mutimer and Tommy Glen returning to Shepley Oval following the end of the national carnival, it was a number of week-in, week-out familiar faces that got the job done.
James Freeman (3 goals) kept his good form going up forward – proving too wily whether at ground level or in the air for the Bushies’ defenders – along with Jack Holden (2 goals) and Travis Young (1 goal) they proved a tricky trio for Murray to man.
The only area of concern – and it’s becoming a persistent problem with the Rays – was its goal-kicking as the Dandenong men sprayed 17 behinds in their 11.17 (83) to 7.10 (52) triumph.
“I was rapt with our intensity at the start of the game,” Dandenong coach Craig Black said.
“We built it up to be a big game, second versus third… and our attack around the contest for the first quarter-and-a-half this week really set the tone for the rest of the game.
“Our impact around the contest – we were really hard around the footy and again, I’d love to have kicked a few more goals, but our pressure and our attack on the footy is as good as I’ve seen at my time here.”
Black praised the efforts of his Vic Country contingent, especially Kurt Mutimer – saying the midfielder played his best match in 2015 – and his All Australian defenders.
“I thought Kurt Mutimer was exceptional in the midfield,” Black said.
“It was his best game for the year as well.”
“It’s fantastic to have Weiters and Collo back there – two solid defenders you know they can beat their opponents and win their own footy.”
Taking second place outright in the run home to the TAC Cup finals, Dandenong faces the Northern Knights on Sunday afternoon (26 July) from 1pm at Preston City Oval.
“Our goal hasn’t changed – we always want to play two finals so if we can finish top four we’re guaranteed that,” Black said.
“That’s what we focus on and we’ve still got some really tough games of footy ahead and ladder position for these teams we’re facing is irrelevant.”
The Dandenong Stingrays also hosted their Sponsors Day on Saturday and wanted to thank all their major supporters for their continued efforts to keep the TAC Cup club thriving.
TAC CUP
DANDENONG 3.6 6.12 10.15 11.17 (83)
MURRAY 0.2 0.5 4.6 7.10 (52)
Dandenong Goals: J. Freeman 3, M. Cox 2, J. Holden 2, J. Battle, T. Young, J. Di Pasquale, S. Gladman. Best: K. Mutimer, J. Weitering, J. Di Pasquale, B. White, M. Cox, T. Young.
