By Jonty Ralphsmith
Dandenong Magpies?
The Dandenong Stingrays came from 29 points down at the 10-minute mark of the last quarter to steal a four-point win over Oakleigh at Frankston under Friday night lights.
When Ziggy Toledo-Glasman banged through their fifth unanswered goal from the square with less than three minutes to go, Dandenong claimed the lead for the first time on the night.
He then lined up in the final minute and took enough time off the clock to ensure Oakleigh couldn’t rebound after he snapped a behind.
After conceding the first goal of the last quarter, the Rays played with fearless dare, high intensity and skill.
All five final-quarter goals were scored from the top of the square as Dandenong got it in deep, and quickly.
Cooper Hynes kicked three last quarter goals and split an aerial contest to setup another.
It took the Rays until eight minutes into the last quarter to get their first inside-50 but after that point, Oakleigh itself didn’t have another inside 50.
The Stingrays, who had strong representation in the Vic Country trials three weeks ago, were expected to romp home against the Chargers, missing 13 players to school footy.
But Oakleigh was the better side for 85 per cent of the game.
As well as the surge footy, some positional switches also aided the Rays late.
Quick rebounder Billy Wilson provided spark off half forward after splitting his time between halfback and the wing in the first three quarters.
Defender Corey Braden, a Hampton Park local, gave a strong aerial presence inside 50 late, and skippers Cooper Simpson and Harry DeMattia brought intensity and class in attack.
On a night where his cousin Tahj made his Stingrays debut, Beaconsfield’s Kade De La Rue was a standout with his core strength, confidence and cleanliness on a dewy night.
The Vic Country representative continues to build on a strong start to the season, playing as a link up half forward who gets his hands on it when thrown in the midfield mix.
“His contest work is something he’s continuing to improve, his cleanliness is a standout and he seems at times like he’ll be tackled but he has time and is really strong in the core so he’s going along nicely.”
Tahj, meanwhile got the call up after strong senior footy for Pakenham in recent weeks and finished with seven possessions in defence.
Highly regarded Riak Andrew, a 192cm Melbourne Next Generation Academy prospect from Berwick, also made his Talent League debut.
His game on Friday night came on the back of three games for local club Berwick, and finished Friday night with eight touches in the backline.
Bottom-ager Harvey Langford’s work rate and ball winning ability in and under were important on the night as was Hynes.
“They’ve been really good for the first four weeks and it’s easy to forget they’re 17-year-olds doing a lot of grunt work in there,” Cox said of Hynes and Langford.
“They’re taking their opportunity and showing some nice stuff while learning to play at the level.
“The longer they play, the better they’re getting.”
“I thought [the momentum] changed through the middle of the third quarter when Cooper Hynes started getting a few clearances and our midfield got better around the footy and then we gained momentum, a few things went our way, the pressure on the ball and player picked up as well,” Cox said.
“We just played the way we wanted to a little bit more.
“We always want to find that perfect kick and sometimes we have to adapt to the conditions a little bit more.
“It’s a bonus to have a win but it’s good to show players in other spots and execute it really well.”
The Rays will return to Frankston on Sunday with both the boys and girls programs to take on strong Eastern Ranges outfits.
HOW THEY TURNED IT AROUND
Start of Q4: Cooper Simpson, Cooper Hynes and Kade De La Rue are the starting midfielders, with Kyah Farris-White in the ruck. Oakleigh win a free kick out of the middle giving them the first inside-50. Oakleigh’s Kobe Askew gets into space and is closed down by Dandenong’s Matt Nelson who hits him with pace but pushes him in the back. The Oakleigh forward makes no mistake, extending the margin to 27.
2min: Oakleigh win the next centre clearance and a combination of the Chargers’ pressure and Rays’ inexact skill execution ensures repeat inside-50 stoppages. After three minutes of pressure and Dandenong turning it over coming out of defensive 50, Oakleigh have a set shot from 40, but miss.
8min: Dandenong immediately turn it over after getting it forward of centre for the first time in the quarter. That opens up space in attack for Oakleigh, which miss the ensuing set shot after two uncontested marks inside 50. That ends up being Oakleigh’s last inside-50, with the margin at 29 points.
9min: Dandenong get its first inside 50 entry for the quarter via Billy Wilson, playing half-forward. At the top of 50, Wilson dances around his opponent and sends it to the goal-square. Harvey Langford wins the ground-ball cleanly and handballs to Cooper Hynes who snaps around his body to cut the margin to 23.
11min: Owen Williams, playing his first game of the year, lays a strong tackle which forces a turnover in the middle of the ground. Toledo-Glasman gets the ball at the top of 50 and sends it to Cooper Hynes, moved forward late. The bottom-ager out-bodies his opponent to take the mark 20 out and then turns around and dobs it. 17 points the difference.
13min: Winger Matt Nelson, from Berwick Springs, senses he can impact the repeat stoppage in the centre circle. He comes in, lays a tackle and wins holding the ball. That gives Dandenong another quick inside 50, with Hampton Park local Corey Braden bringing it to ground. Skipper Cooper Simpson, playing in attack, hits the loose ball with pace and cleanly gathers before kicking it from point-blank range in front of parochial supporters. Margin back to 11 halfway through the quarter.
14min: Just as Oakleigh looked it had finally won a centre clearance, Nelson ran down gun Kynan Brown, executing another holding the ball tackle. It leads to an inside 50 via Ben Hopkins.
18min: After locking the ball in attack, three consecutive strong aerial contests leads to another Hynes goal from the square. Nelson took a contested mark on the wing and he hit up Braden at the top of 50, who marked in front of his direct opponent. Toledo-Glasman ensures the ball comes to ground in the goal-square and Hynes is at the fall of the footy. Margin back to three points.
23min: Hudson Rigg lays a strong tackle from a Langford inside-50 to force a stoppage 20 metres out from goal. With Oakleigh unable to clear from that stoppage, Frangalas kicks to the top of the square, where Hynes brings it to ground and Toledo-Glasman kicks the match-winner out the back.
24min: Harry DeMattia, Simpson and Langford all go in for the final centre bounce. A DeMattia tackle, Langford handball and Kade De La Rue’s strength gives the Rays their fifth consecutive centre clearance.
25min: To the delight of the crowd, Toledo-Glasman wins a free-kick within range for a tug of the jumper in the ruck contest. While his snap misses, he takes enough time off the clock to prevent Oakleigh from attacking once more.
Final Score: Stingrays
