By Nick Creely
TAC CUP
REVIEW – ROUND 11
An enthralling 13-goal second half has seen the Dandenong Stingrays register a commanding 76-point victory over Western Jets.
With five youngsters making their debuts – Alex Young, Daniel Frampton, Jack McHale, Riley Boland and Will Barron – there was a breath of fresh air in the Stingrays’ line-up.
After a slow start by both sides, Dylan Morris finally snared the opening major of the game, before debutant Alex Young kicked a goal on the stroke of quarter time to give the ‘Rays a 12-point quarter time lead.
Another errant second term by the Stingrays meant that despite all their dominance, they were equal pegging with the Jets despite having six more scoring shots.
With second halves being the Stingrays’ kryptonite throughout the year, a goal in the first minute of the third quarter by Finlay Bayne sparked a run of four goals in eight minutes, with the ‘Rays ending the quarter having kicked seven goals to nil.
With the game put to bed, the ‘Rays then run amok in the final quarter, with Tom Freeman, Riley D’Arcy, Mitchell Riordan, Jai Taylor, Tom Bedford all kicking final term goals as the hapless Jets could only look on in misery.
“Our second halves have been poor this year and it was great for the group to answer that challenge,” Coach Nick Cox said.
“It was a windy day down at Williamstown as it usually tends to be, but we just fixed some things up structurally.
“We eventually got our tails up in the third quarter and started playing some great footy.”
With a bunch of newcomers and a host of kids playing in just their second and third games, Cox was buoyed by the promise they showed.
“We had five debutants – they all did well and got a taste of footy at this level which was great,” Cox said.
One of the youngsters playing their first game for the Stingrays was 17-year-old Haileybury product Jack McHale.
McHale is the great, great-grandson of Collingwood legend Jock McHale, the man responsible for coaching the Magpies to eight VFL premierships in a stellar 714 game coaching career from 1912-1949.
Cox said it was a promising debut for the young kid with the famous bloodlines.
“Jack was a little bit off the pace early, but as the game wore on got a lot better – he’ll be better for the run,” he said.
With a host of the leaders playing in the Under 18 championships, stand-in skipper Lachlan Young was brilliant once again, while Toby Bedford (21 disposals) starred with two goals and showed immense class.
“Toby was exceptional for us up forward – a clear best afield performance from him,” Cox said.
“Lachlan was really good as our stand in skipper – he was honestly below par at the start of the year but his last month has been exceptional for us.”
The Stingrays now have a 7-4 record and will tackle the Calder Cannons on 8 July at RAMS Arena.
WESTERN JETS 1.0 4.3 4.5 5.6(36)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 2.6 3.9 10.12 16.16(112)
WESTERN JETS
GOALS: C. Thar, H. Murphy, J. Klaromenos, S. Radovanovic, B. Souter.
BEST: S. Radovanovic, N. Stuhldreier, J. Mould, X. O’’Halloran, R. Ham, T. Xerri.
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
GOALS: T. Freeman 3, T. Bedford 2, C. Ellison 2, F. Bayne 2, D. Morris 2, R. D’Arcy, M. Riordan, A. Young, J. Taylor, B. Morrish.
BEST: T. Bedford, L. Young, R. Bowman, B. Morrish, W. Hamill, F. Bayne.
