By JARROD POTTER
TAC CUP – ROUND 18
THOUGHTS of finals a week too early clouded the Stingrays’ task at hand against Geelong.
With Geelong playing for a spot in the top four and Dandenong already secure in its second position stronghold, the Stingrays didn’t match the hunger needed to go toe-to-toe with the Falcons throughout the round-18 clash.
Playing on the picturesque Simonds Stadium, Dandenong didn’t live up to the high-calibre billing such a stadium would demand. They squandered chances up forward – especially in the second term where six behinds was the totality of their offensive collaboration.
Kicking their way out of the match – waywardly spraying an embarrassing 3.15 – Dandenong lacked the intensity needed to get the job done against the Falcons.
Geelong showcased its talents a lot more effectively as highly touted draft prospect Charlie Curnow (three goals) virtually levelled the Dandenong forwards off his own boot while midfielders Darcy Parish and Rhys Mathieson had a field day.
Two goals to six after half-time spelled out the final margin as Geelong eked out the 36-point win on the back of Dandenong’s carelessness as much their own aptitude.
It’s no surprise on such a bleak day up forward that all six of Dandenong’s listed best – Tommy Glen, Collins, Sam Pickess, Zac Rouse, Jacob Weitering and Liam McKay – are defenders.
Dandenong coach Craig Black put it down to his side’s work up forward, with the scoreboard proving its worst enemy as 18 Stingrays’ scoring shots matched the Falcons (19).
“Scoreboard pressure is the key, especially against good opposition,” Black said.
“We didn’t take our chances and they took theirs.
“The way we played you’d maybe think it (thinking about finals prematurely) was part of it,” Black said.
“We knew we were going to play Murray the next week and we expect our players to bring more intensity than what we were brought on Sunday.”
Black highlighted All Australian defender Keiran Collins as a rare standout on a down day across the board for Dandenong.
The home-and-away season done-and-dusted – with Dandenong earning second spot with a sensational 13-4 TAC Cup record – with the bigger stage now set up as Dandenong heads into another finals campaign.
The Stingrays will face Murray on Sunday afternoon and if a full-strength powerhouse showing back in round 13 is any indication, Dandenong will be exceedingly tough to beat.
“We think we match up well against Murray and they will against us too,” Black said.
“At our best we will be pretty tough to beat and we take a bit of confidence in how we played against Murray last time.
“Our players held up under pressure then and we hope it can happen this week again.”
TAC CUP
GEELONG FALCONS 2.2 4.5 7.7 10.9 (69)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 1.3 1.9 2.12 3.15 (33)
GEELONG FALCONS
Goals: C. Curnow 3, H. Kol 2, J. Bennett 2, H. Kershaw, B. Blair, J. Henry.
Best: W. Sexton, R. Mathieson, H. Kol, J. Bennett, J. Sheahan, D. Parish. DANDENONG STINGRAYS
Goals: J. Freeman, D. Capiron, S. Gladman.
Best: T. Glen, K. Collins, S. Pickess, Z. Rouse, J. Weitering, L. McKay.
