DANDENONG Stingrays were like the antsy home brewer who cracked the first stubby before the ale was ready.
For three quarters of Saturday’s qualifying final the Stingrays were brewing nicely against Gippsland Power and appeared headed for a preliminary final.
Young star Lachie Whitfield was showing the football public why he has long been touted the No. 1 draft pick. The midfield had winners up forward and down back. That was when they cracked the first stubby – about 30 minutes early.
At the final change the Stingrays were 34 points in front; by full time they had failed to add to their score and the Power had booted 7.3 for the term to finish as 11-point victors.
Stingrays coach Graham Yeats was fuming. He declined to talk about the capitulation. Instead, assistant coach Craig Black fronted the media and said the team would go back to the drawing board.
The Stingrays now face an elimination semi-final against Oakleigh Chargers at Visy Park this Sunday at 1.45pm
They will be sweating on the fitness of Whitfield, who came off in the last quarter with a foot ailment that he was icing after the game.
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