Power charges for win

By Marc McGowan and Paul Pickering
SATURDAY’S clash between the Dandenong Stingrays and Gippsland Power at Shepley Oval was never going to be a hard sell.
You had the potential top-two AFL draft picks in Tom Scully and John Butcher on opposing sides, it was the local derby and the clubs sat second and third on the TAC Cup ladder.
Key forward Butcher ultimately failed to take the field after suffering a quadricep injury at training during the week and midfielder Scully (24 disposals) was solid rather than spectacular.
But the Power set itself for a big performance in the top-four clash and prevailed by 20 points after being headed early in the final term.
Gippsland’s relentless pressure from the first bounce was the key – as it was for the Stingrays in their round-one victory in Morwell – and Dandenong was left to rue a wasteful opening term in front of goal.
Power co-captains Koby Stevens (30) and Ed Carr (22) led from the front, but it was the unheralded likes of Mitch Dowse (22) – who started on Scully – Luke Tynan and David Donchi who epitomised the visitors’ effort.
Midfielder-forward Luke Parker (32) was the Stingrays’ – and possibly the game’s – standout in an outstanding four-quarter display, while Dylan Roberton (32) and Ryan Bastinac (24 and nine tackles) moved onto the wing and up forward respectively in the second half to also impress.
Gippsland coach Damian Carroll was thrilled to exact revenge from his side’s first-up loss to Dandenong.
“The players were pretty pumped up and, as it turned out, maybe the two weeks off freshened us up and they built up a bit of passion for the game,” he said. “We were pretty disappointed with our round-one game against the Stingrays – not just because of the result, but because of the way we started the game. We’re happy because we beat a very good side today – it was a great win.”
Dandenong was the sharper of the two teams in the early going, but it took three misses – two from centre half-forward Myles Pitt – before Pitt finally registered its first goal after a strong mark.
Gippsland, on a negative note, lost defender Jordan Dessent to an ankle injury and he did not return.
Jed Lamb hit back for the Power soon after and it appeared the Stingrays had wasted the strong breeze until Mitch Hallahan and Levi Casboult slotted late majors.
But even then Dandenong’s 19-point edge was not enough, especially considering it had 10 scoring shots to Gippsland’s one.
It didn’t take long for the Power to wipe out Dandenong’s advantage.
Madison Andrews gifted Gippsland forward Dean Woodhead the first goal when his risky kick across goal was cut off before Tim Northe (25) and Dowse added further majors.
Stevens, Tynan and human cannonball Kele Asa Leausa produced exceptional solo efforts to spark the Power, whereas only Parker and Mitch Hallahan maintained their ratings for the Stingrays.
But one play in the second term summed up Gippsland’s intensity.
Stevens twice won the ball in heavy traffic before handballing to defender Nick Sing, who surged past, steadied and booted a booming 50m goal.
Dowse and Northe finished the first half with five majors between them as the Power established a 26-point lead.
Yeats made several key moves for the third quarter, including switching Scully and Roberton into the midfield and Bastinac, who was largely ineffective in the first two quarters, into the forward line.
The moves paid immediate dividends, with Scully having a hand in Casboult’s early goal and Bastinac kicking two clever majors.
Roberton also played a major role in the Dandenong fightback, but four Gippsland goals – including three to Lamb – into the wind prevented the hosts from making up too much ground.
Mat Shaw (24), who signed with the new Gold Coast franchise two weeks ago, was another who rose to the occasion for the Stingrays.
The Power’s buffer was five at the last break, but Dandenong went ahead by seven points through goals to Casboult – after a brilliant contested grab – and Parker.
Dowse brought Gippsland within one after winning the ball in close and Donchi capitalised on another Stingrays turnover to restore his side’s lead.
Stevens set up the Power’s next two majors before Donchi’s second capped its well-deserved victory.
Yeats admitted afterwards that Gippsland simply wanted the win more than his players.
“Their commitment to winning the contested ball and their hardness to run, especially into the breeze, to set up scoring chances was a bit better than us,” he said. “We had some shocking efforts that cost us goals, so it was really disappointing to make such elementary mistakes.”
Dandenong remains ahead of the Power on percentage and faces the Northern Knights on Sunday at 11am, while Gippsland takes on the Gold Coast at the same venue at 2pm.