Stingrays fail to fire

By Paul Pickering
‘WASTEFUL’ was the word that echoed through the Dandenong Stingrays’ rooms after their 30-point loss to Bendigo on Saturday.
The Stingrays had 10 more inside-50s than the hometown Pioneers, but lacked the efficiency that saw them overcome more-fancied opponents in the opening two rounds.
The flat performance handed Bendigo its first win of the season and left coach Graeme Yeats ruing a missed opportunity.
“It was a waste of a game,” Yeats reflected, having last week warned his charges about the prospect of a letdown.
“It was clear early that they (the Pioneers) were switched on and ready to compete and we were going to be under pressure.
“We never looked like winning.”
The ‘Rays limped home for a one-point victory against Murray the previous weekend and they began in a similarly reactive vein in the first game of the TAC Cup triple-header at Queen Elizabeth Oval on Saturday.
The visitors conceded the opening three goals and, despite their statistical advantage in forward entries, never mounted a sustained challenge.
The margin was three goals at the main break, four at three-quarter-time and five when the final siren sounded.
Yeats gave his team a ‘two-out-of-10’ for intensity, but was keen to praise the plucky Pioneers, who knocked the Stingrays off in the corresponding fixture last year.
“Historically, we’ve had a bit of trouble with Bendigo for some reason,” he said.
“And they impressed me with their tackling and pressure. That’s something we pride ourselves on, but they outmatched us in that area.”
Yeats left no doubt that it was a comprehensive defeat.
“I reckon we might have won three or four positions on the ground,” he said.
“We just didn’t get enough impact from some of our better players.”
That certainly didn’t include centre half-forward Myles Pitt, who was the shining light up forward in booting three goals and collecting 20 possessions to continue his stellar start to the season.
But Pitt’s contribution was offset by those of Pioneer forwards Chris Prockter and Jye Sandiford, who snared three apiece, and the home side had its way with the Stingrays in the middle.
Bendigo on-ball trio Shane Page, Dustin Martin and Kallen Geary amassed 80 disposals between them – fed brilliantly by ruckman Matt Gilmore.
Dandenong ball-winner Ryan Bastinac held his own at the clearances, returning to something resembling top form, but his co-captain Tom Scully was well-held in a sweeping role across half-back.
James Hallahan provided plenty of run from a wing and Yeats was keen to recognise the contributions of promising first-year players Matt Shaw and Andrew McInnes (two goals).
The ‘Rays will have a fortnight to regroup ahead of their next outing against the Northern Territory at Shepley Oval on Saturday, 2 May.
Next weekend has been set aside for the first of the Vic Metro and Vic Country trial games.
Scully, who represented Vic Metro last year, will suit up for the city boys again, while Bastinac, Pitt, Shaw, James Hallahan, Mitch Hallahan and Corey Millard will be vying for Vic Country selection after the Stingrays were rezoned by AFL Victoria this year.