No time to rest

By Jarrod Potter
THEY ARE at the peak of under-age football, but Vic Country representatives Alex Benbow, Dandenong Stingrays co-captain, and Haydn Hector, Gippsland Power captain, would never let themselves sit on their laurels or brag about their success.
The two captains have enjoyed their time with Vic Country, playing in matches against Tasmania and the Northern Territory, and the experiences gained from the opportunity.
“It’s good to have a run around with players from across a few different teams,” Hector said. “It’s really good to meet all the new players. They’re the best from their clubs and you’re generally some of the best players from your club, so it’s really good to meet all the players trying out for the same team, but at the same time you’re making some really good friendships.”
“It’s good experience to play with some of the best, good to have a couple of runs under our belt and hopefully when we go back to TAC Cup we’ll be better off for it,” Benbow said.
Hector and Benbow return to Gippsland and Dandenong respectively this week, after two fruitful matches with Vic Country.
With limited game time against Tasmania, Benbow put together 10 disposals, two marks and one tackle. Given a bigger role in his second Vic Country match, Benbow accrued 22 disposals, six marks, three tackles and was influential through the midfield, driving the ball out from stoppages.
Hector’s presence through the backline and midfield was key to Vic Country’s success, even if it is to the detriment of his own statistics at times. Hector’s work includes many one-percenters; bumps, smothers and shepherds, items which don’t show on a stats-sheet but resonate with fans and coaches.
THE STINGRAYS have had their narrow losses, including one-point squeakers against Gippsland and Geelong, but Benbow is upbeat about the team’s prospects at a finals tilt.
“The Stingrays are going all right, think we’re at 4-4,” Benbow said. “So it’s an all right start, but there are plenty of things to work on. Once we get all things right we’ll be a fair chance come the end of the year.”
Benbow likes to push himself harder than the players he captains, a point he believes brings out the true potential of the players around him.
“As captain I strive to influence the players through leading by example. I have a responsibility to set the benchmark for my team-mates and I do through a diligent approach to the game on and off the field,” Benbow said.
“To inspire Stingrays I like to challenge them to work hard to get the most out of themselves. Above all, I want our club to be an enjoyable place that can recognise when to knuckle down and work hard.”
Facing the North Ballarat Rebels on Sunday, the Stingrays will draw positives from their round two victory against them at Eureka Stadium. This match has been shifted to Shepley Oval at 2pm from Visy Park, due to concerns over heavy traffic affecting the surface.
LIFE at the top is much better for the Gippsland Power and captain Haydn Hector, sitting with a 7-1 record, but the hard work won’t end because of their prime position.
“We’ve started the season off really well, much better than last year,” Hector said. “We had four losses straight up in 2010, so it’s good to get a few wins right away instead, but this is where all the hard work comes in, when you start missing players and that’s where you’ve got to see how much depth you have in your side.”
The Power will play at Visy Park on Sunday against the Calder Cannons.