By Hayley Wildes
It’s fair to say the Dandenong Stingrays were handed a tough schedule to begin their 2018 TAC Cup campaign.
As if trips to Geelong, Morwell and Bendigo for the first three games of the season weren’t challenging enough, they also had to contend with just a four-day break between facing the Falcons and Power.
But if there is one thing we know about the ‘Rays, it’s that they don’t make excuses – they get on with the job and continue to work hard.
Mark Wheeler, Dandenong Stingrays Talent Manager, admitted the travel was a test, but is happy to have made it through that tough travel schedule.
“We’d rather have our travel at the start of the year than the end of the year, so you will see at the end of the year we’re limiting our travel. It’s definitely been a great start to the season.” Wheeler said.
The depth of the team has been a standout. 13 individual goal kickers in the 97-point demolition of the Greater Western Victoria Rebels on the 7th of April was evidence of that.
Talking about that performance against the Rebels, in which the ‘Rays were without stars Riley Bowman and Bailey Williams who were on AFL Academy duties, Wheeler was thrilled with the unselfishness of the team.
“All of us were sitting in front of the coach’s box in the last quarter and we were just sitting there going ‘this is probably the tightest group we’ve seen’.” Wheeler said.
“They’ve gelled together and were definitely giving it to the person who was in the best position, so there was no selfish football out there. We’ve just got to hold this group together and see if they can continue to do it.”
Another factor that has seen the team get off to a strong start is the experience of the group.
Wheeler explains, “Most of our boys had played four TAC Cup games already. It is very unusual where at the start of the season, half your team has already played four or five TAC Cup games.”
“I think that depth has really helped us out. We played most of our 17 year olds last year and I think that’s what has held us in good stead for this year.”
If you need more evidence that the Stingrays are in one of the strongest positions in recent memory, you need not look any further than the recently released initial Victoria Country squad for the 2018 NAB AFL U18 Championships.
With 17 players named, and Angus Patterson being added in since, there will be a huge Stingrays presence at the Championships later this year.
“Definitely it’s the most we’ve had.” Wheeler said. “The two Cumming’s boys [Stephen and Matthew] will be playing for the Northern Territory, and if they weren’t, they would’ve been in the Vic Country squad too. So to have 18 players in the Vic Country squad is definitely a record.”
Those named in the squad have all had impressive summers and improved over the pre-season, but Wheeler highlighted a couple who have really stood out.
“Zac Foot from Langwarrin really struggled to make it into our program as a 17-year-old. He was playing against men last year and I watched him and I’d say he had one of the best summers out of our group.” Wheeler said.
“Bailey Schmidt is another good story as well. He broke his leg as a 16-year-old and it took him all the way through to his 17th year to get that right. Now he’s starting to show why he’s one of the best big men around and as the season goes on, he’ll only get better.”
Whilst the depth is evident, Wheeler also talked about the importance of strong leadership within the group.
“Our players get to choose the leadership group, so it’s a vote from within – the coaches get a vote too – but the players get to choose. I think we’ve got a really strong leadership.” Wheeler said.
“They set the rules and the boundaries and to their credit at this stage, all the boys are definitely following them.”
Captains Campbell Hustwaite and Mitch Riordan have different leadership styles, but both are terrific leaders in their own right.
“Campbell Hustwaite has probably got more to say than Mitch Riordan; he’s more a follow me on the footy field leader, whereas Campbell is a bit more vocal in the group.” Wheeler said.
“They’ve got a good control on the group and we’re fortunate that we’ve got a deep leadership group and as we’ve said to all players; everyone is a leader at this football club, we don’t care about a title.”
