By JARROD POTTER
DANDENONG continued its hot and (severely) ice-cold form with a dismal 42-point loss to Calder Cannons on Saturday.
One team showed up to Highgate Reserve Saturday morning prepared to work, chase down their opponents and seize their chances in front of goal… the other team drove from Shepley Oval to achieve nothing.
Insipid would be a kind way to describe the true output of the Stingrays throughout the first half – showing complete disrespect to the colours in a woeful effort.
When they weren’t running metres in the clear behind their Cannons’ opponents, the Stingrays were slipping over, with a number of players sporting the wrong style of boots for the wet conditions.
Stingrays coach Graeme Yeats implored his charges at quarter time to be braver and not give up any distance on the opposition.
“We’ve got to challenge ourselves to be braver – as right now we’re not a brave team,” Yeats said.
“We’re second to the ball… you’re not even concentrating.
“We gave them three or four metres… it’s not good enough… one metre’s not good enough.”
Alas, his pleas for change went unheard.
With five behinds to their name at half time – chasing seven-goals-straight from the dead-eye Calder – some scoreboard redemption came in the second half as the Stingrays kicked six-goals-to-seven to at least match Calder, regardless it remained a dark and dreary day for the Stingrays.
Best of a subpar bunch were midfielders Jordan Bastinac, James Harmes and Zac Jones, while 17-year-old debutant Aaron Pawel toiled manfully in the rucks to give the Stingrays any chance. Narre Warren’s Chris Johnson also made his TAC Cup debut.
Stingrays’ region talent manager Mark Wheeler said many boys would need to look back on their effort and preparation.
“Graeme speaks to the boys all the time about the need to focus and prepare well… you only need to be slightly off and the opposition will make you pay, as Calder did,” Wheeler said.
It was a loss not befitting of the Stingrays’ fourth place ranking in the TAC Cup, leaving it two weeks to contemplate and get over this loss before hopefully making amends against Oakleigh at Warrawee Park on 15 June.
TAC CUP SCOREBOARD
CALDER CANNONS
5.0 7.0 12.4 14.5 (89)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS
0.2 0.5 3.8 6.11 (47)
Calder Cannons Goals: A. Christensen 3, J. Cauchi 2, M. Merlo 2, A. Prestia, M. Kovacevic, J. Owen, M. Goodyear, J. Cooke, D. Quillerat, R. Schraven. Best: M. Merlo, J. Owen, A. Prestia, J. Lever, D. Thompson, M. Jensen.
