By JARROD POTTER
TO DANDENONG’S immense luck, their worst performance of the year – a 41-point belting by Geelong – was reserved for their last home-and-away match and not a final.
Even though there was free entry to Victoria Park on Saturday to watch the TAC Cup fixture, the Stingrays should offer refunds to anyone who watched their lacklustre performance.
Like a side-by-side comparison between prime rib and canned hot dogs, the Stingrays couldn’t compete with the classy Geelong Falcons, who clinched the minor premiership with the win.
Dandenong was left powerless to affect the outcome by spraying everything it placed through the goalposts, or more accurately the behind posts.
The Stingrays shanked their way to a 0.10 (10) score at half-time while the Falcons had fewer opportunities but the greater conversion rate, 6.2.
Some Stingrays found the big sticks in the second half to kick 5.2 and save some face, but by then the damage was irreparable.
The gulf between first and third-placed Dandenong on the TAC Cup ladder might as well be oceanic if the Stingrays offer up a similar performance next week and beyond as the TAC Cup finals commence.
Dandenong coach Graeme Yeats said the match was in the balance in all areas besides the scoreboard and a better conversion rate could’ve seen the Stingrays push ahead.
“The score line is not always a true reflection of the state of play and at three-quarter time, most of the stats would most likely been in our favour,” Yeats said.
“It was a hard day to assess the performance of the team as if we had kicked straight we could of easily of been in front at half time and the score … we just couldn’t manage to close the gap on the day.”
The defenders – captain Nathan Foote, Tom Lamb and Daylan Kempster – were listed in the best, while midfielders Jordan Bastinac, Jack Soroczynski and Billy Hartung also featured in the top performers’ list.
The Stingrays face the rapid rising Eastern Ranges at Visy Park on Saturday morning from 11.15am, with a week off and a preliminary final berth at stake.
TAC CUP SCOREBOARD
Dandenong Stingrays 0.4 0.10 3.11 5.12 (42)
Geelong Falcons 4.0 6.2 9.2 13.5 (83)
DANDENONG STINGRAYSGoals: D. Gawley, W. Hartung, T. Lamb, A. Scott, J. Pickess.Best: N. Foote, T. Lamb, J. Bastinac, D. Kempster, J. Soroczynski, W. Hartung.
GEELONG FALCONSGoals: M. Thompson 3, S. Dixon 3, D. Bond 2, H. Goddard 2, A. Christensen 2, R. Adams.
