By JARROD POTTER
THE final cuts are done and dusted as Dandenong Stingrays announced their 2016 TAC Cup squad on Monday.
After one last round of big cuts – following Sunday’s pre-season triple header against Murray Bushrangers at Punt Road Oval – the Stingrays have finalised which 57 men will feature in this year’s initial squad.
“It was pleasing – similar to the week before – we managed to play a couple of 17 year olds in the 18s game and we might’ve got a win but don’t really watch the scoreboard in the pre-season,” Stingrays coach Craig Black said. “Good hit out and it really shaped our list.”
There are a lot of new faces set to impress this TAC Cup season, with 2015 under-16 Vic Country members Hunter Clark, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Jake Frawley, Beaconsfield’s Oscar Clavarino making the step into the higher standard in their under-17 seasons.
Familiar under-17s like Josh Battle, Reece Piper and Myles Poholke are also set to make a great impact in their draft years and Stingrays coach Craig Black said all who made the grade have earned their places as part of a strong mix at Shepley Oval.
“I think we’re pretty level across the board – that’s one of our strengths,” Dandenong coach Craig Black said. “We’ve got a good balance of smalls, talls and our midfield and it’s a very even group that should do well this year.”
Beaconsfield tandem Tommy Glen and Tom Jok have decided to go around again, as has ruck/forward Travis Young among other 19 year olds.
Black said it is one thing to be a talented 18 year old in the Stingrays group, but the bar is set even higher for those returning in their top-age season.
“It’s a big challenge as the 19 year olds – we challenge them to step up as if they don’t get picked up in the draft as 18 year olds they have to be better again to impress the recruiters,” Black said. “As a coaching group you probably ride them a bit harder as they’re good players.
“They didn’t get drafted and have to get better – work on deficiencies and improve across the board but that’s the great thing about them getting another chance.”
Dandenong’s got another month remaining to gel as a team, announce the leadership group and prepare for the season ahead with the side wanting to go one better than its preliminary final exit in 2015.
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 2016 TAC CUP LIST
Tommy Glen, Thomas Jok, Oscar Clavarino, Jordan Stewart (BEACONSFIELD), Ryan Gains, Bailey Morrish, Reece Piper (BERWICK), Mitchell Lewis, Malis Lokeron, Josh Battle (DOVETON), Kyle Beveridge (DEVON MEADOWS), Kirk Dickson (CRANBOURNE), Brenton Wells (NARRE WARREN), Jake Frawley, Bol Jok, Jackson Allen, Danny Allsop, Dylan Atkins, Zak Barrett, Joshua Bateman, Aiden Bonar, Nick Carlon, Hunter Clark, Patrick Coates, Luke Dalmau, Riley D’arcy, Aaron Darling, Luke Davies-Uniacke, Tom De Koning, Mason De Wit, Jack Doman, Ty Ellison, Sam Fowler, Tom Freeman, Lachlan Gill-Renouf , Ben Graham, Tom Hogan, Darcy Hope, Daniel Hughes, Max Kleverkamp, Matthew La Fontaine, Charlie Martello, Mitchell Mccarthy, Liam Mckay, Frankie Mitropoulos, Dylan Morris, Tom Murphy, Angus Paterson, Myles Poholke, Tom Roberts, Nathan Scagliarini, Jarrod Smith, William Smith, Oliver Walsh, Callum White, Lachlan Young,Travis Young.
