Above: The Gippsland Power players celebrate their 15point TAC Cup win over the Stingrays.By Brad Kingsbury
GIPPSLAND Power crowned the most successful season in its 13year history with a 15point win over the Dandenong Stingrays in the TAC Cup grand final at the MCG on Saturday.
Both sides were shooting for their firstever flag and it was the minor premiers that prevailed after lifting to subdue the Stingrays, who charged and got to within 10 points of the Power late in the final term.
Two late goals, with the sealer kicked by best man afield Dale Thomas, put the issue beyond doubt and started the Power’s large and loud group of supporters chanting as the game wound down in the last few minutes.
Thomas did his chances of being drafted no harm at all, but he said he was lucky that the ball just bounced his way.
“It pretty much just came to me in the right spot at the right time,” he said.
“You know that you just have to keep working hard when the ball comes to you and the rest will take care of itself and that’s what happened.”
The sides’ prematch build up was different with the Stingrays feeding off each other’s energy and the Power players, in contrast, calmly going through their preparations without fuss.
The Stingrays started well, but were not able to capitalise on the scoreboard, allowing the Power to hit back and gain a 15point lead at the first change.
The margin remained around that for the rest of the game and every time the Dandenong team looked to make inroads, the Power was able to hit back and maintain the buffer.
Proud Power coach Paul Hudson, a former Hawthorn premiership player, praised his players’ mental strength and said they had set a new standard at the club this year.
“I wanted them to make the most of the moment and they did,” he said.
“One thing I tried to do was relate to them on their own level and I think I achieved that and I do feel part of the group.
“They’ve created records right throughout the year. They finished on top of the ladder for the first time, had 12 representatives at the Victorian Championships and now they’ve won the club’s first flag.”
The Power has averaged 3.5 players recruited since it started, but Hudson said at least four and possibly up to eight of the current group could be taken this year.
Stingrays’ football manager Darren Flanagan said the Gippslanders were too good on the day, but acknowledged the support of the area’s football community as a reason the side made the grand final.
“There’s a lot of real good people in local footy helping us bring kids through and it makes our job a lot easier when the quality of kids coming up is so high,” he said.
“It’s a credit to the local leagues and the local clubs the way they are preparing kids for TAC Cup and ultimately AFL standard. It’s a positive attitude and our area is very supportive and that’s one of the main reasons we’re here today.”
