By JARROD POTTER
TAC CUP PREVIEW – ROUND 15
IN: Bailey Rice.
These three words are enough to give any opposing midfielder a nightmare as the hard-bodied Stingray makes his return to the TAC Cup after an extended break with a groin complaint.
The Vic Country national champion will slot straight back in to the Stingrays’ steadily growing arsenal – with the schoolboys’ competition all but drawn to an end.
While Jacob Weitering (ribs) was available this week, he just misses out after coming up sore after teams were listed for this round.
It will likely be a one-in, one-out arrangement for Rice, who is likely to head to the VFL and potentially play the first of many games to come in the Blues colours.
“Bailey had a bit of a groin complaint,” coach Craig Black said.
“We took the cautious approach with him, so he’ll come in this week then he’s going to play at the Northern Blues as their 23rd man at the MCG as a curtain-raiser.
“Any chance to play as a curtain-raiser before the Carlton Collingwood game, you think most players would take it.”
Dandenong will return for the first time in nearly two decades to Frankston’s beachside digs on Kars Street – with former Dolphins’ star Black returning to his old hunting ground from his playing days.
“I’m really excited – it’s probably the first time since 1996 we played a curtain-raiser at Frankston,” Black said.
“It’s a really good opportunity for the team, especially with so many former Stingrays kids playing there as well.
“Good surface, the supporters are fairly vocal, and a good opportunity for our kids.”
Dandenong is set to give a debut to top-ager Jake Kelly, who arrives from Karingal and is set to soar after missing the start of the season with a broken thumb.
Brenton Wells has retained his place in the line-up, which is, outside of Rice, virtually unchanged following Dandenong’s impressive 18-point win in trying conditions against the Northern Knights.
The other big in for Dandenong – in its battle aginst Sandringham – is the return to the coaches box for Craig Black – set to take back the reins after letting assistant coach Wayne Siekman have a run in charge of the Stingrays.
“It was great for him to experience the week – speaking to the media, physio and helping the assistants work,” Black said.
“Was a lot more to it than just coaching on Saturday or Sunday – but he’s been around long enough to know what it takes.
“He’s definitely doing everything right to put him in that position to become a TAC Cup coach, whether that’s at Dandenong or anywhere else if a job comes up that he can apply for.”
Dandenong has one bye left next weekend before the final run home – Oakleigh, Western and Geelong – with one last chance to refresh in preparation for a charge towards a TAC Cup double chance.
The first bounce is 11am on Sunday morning.
DANDENONG STINGRAYS ROUND 15 LINE-UP
B: Batten, Z. Rouse, Glen.
HB: White, Capiron, Lovett.
C: McKay, Cox, Holden.
HF: MacHaya, Young, Williams.
F: Poholke, Freeman, Gladman.
R: Nyuon, Mutimer, Di Pasquale.
Int: Stoffels, Kelly, Rice, J. Rouse, Pickess, Wells*, Turnbull.
