By Nick Creely
The Dandenong Stingrays’ wobbly start to the 2017 season has continued, falling to the still unbeaten Sandringham Dragons by 21-points at Frankston Oval on Saturday.
In front of a solid bayside crowd, the Rays looked the goods early, kicking the first two majors of the contest and looking sharp by foot.
The Dragons pegged it back later in the first-quarter, notably through impressive youngster Aaron Trusler (four goals) to gain a three-point lead at quarter-time.
It was even once more in the second, with both sides able to make the most of their opportunities going forward, but it was the Rays, through key playmakers Mason De Wit and Hunter Clark, who were able to get enough drive off the half-back line to gain the lead back at half-time.
But despite the effort and intensity remaining consistent, skill execution lacked in the second-half, with some horrific turnovers inviting the Dragons to punish them on transition.
Max Lohan (31 disposals, 16 marks and a goal) was particularly devastating in the second-half with his penetrating left leg for the Dragons, with the Rays unable to stop them spreading the ball and streaming forward.
But just before three-quarter-time, and with the Rays down by 22-points, a moment of utter brilliance from Hunter Clark kept them alive.
From the centre-bounce, the damaging midfielder, who is seen as a potential first-round draft pick, streamed out of the centre, and with a kick that Dustin Martin would be proud of, launched the ball 55 metres straight through the goals.
Clark then backed it up early in the fourth with a classy snap from near the pocket, but the Rays were unable to penetrate the lines like the Dragons, who ran out convincing winners.
Apart from Clark, who racked up 25 disposals, two goals and seven tackles, De Wit (22 disposals, seven marks) was damaging, while Tom De Koning (1 goal, 12 hit-outs) had his moments, skipper Josh Bateman (13 disposals) showed some nice dash off half-back and Mitch Cotter (18 disposals, six tackles) was tough at the clinches.
Stingrays coach Craig Black was disappointed with the skill-level of his group, and said that consistency in effort is still an issue that needs to be addressed.
“We started well, but our skill execution was below were we would like it to be,” he said.
“We also need our effort to be for much longer in games, plus our whole team needs to defend quicker.”
The Rays now move to seventh on the ladder with a 2-2 record, and will need to bounce back quickly against the Calder Cannons, who are winless this year and kicked a shocking 5.21 in their loss the same day.
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 4.1 7.3 8.6 10.9 (69)
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS 4.4 6.4 11.4 14.6 (90)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
GOALS: D.Morris 2, H.Clark 2, B.Williams, T.De Koning, J.Nanscawen, A.Zijai, T.Ellison, W.Smith.
BEST: H.Clark, W.Hamill, J.Davies, M.Cotter, M.De Wit, D.Morris.
SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS
GOALS: A.Trusler 4, H.Mclean 2, R.Macdermid 2, M.Lohan, N.Stamatis, A.Sakeson, J.Gibbins. J.Bakes, J.Paul.
BEST: L.Barrett, H.Brayshaw, H.Mclean, A.Sakeson, J.Hale, S.Sofronidis.
