The eyes have it, as Stingrays and Power fans watch the action from the Keith Miller Pavilion on Saturday.
By Jarrod Potter
A LAST-QUARTER surge from the Gippsland Power saw it home in the battle of the south-east against the Dandenong Stingrays.
Gippsland won comfortably by 38 points, with a six-goal last quarter inflating its gap at the end.
Gippsland had the lead throughout, but failed to push the margin out in the first quarter. But Dandenong also couldn’t take advantage of its opportunities with some early misses on goal and the tight tag on Brett O’Hanlon by Sean Marusic, switched to the back this match to fill the gaping holes left by Vic Country representatives Josh Tynan and Simon Deery.
Gippsland took the quarter-time lead with goals to Shannen Lange, Jack Johnstone, Danny Butcher and Josh Scott, while the solitary six-pointer for the Stingrays came off the boot of Max Gearon.
In the second quarter neither team gaining supremacy with the Power increasing quarter-time margin by a mere two points. Goals to Adam Giobbi and Nic Tuddenham for Dandenong were answered with goals from Gippsland’s Tom Muir and Ryley Hall in an even display.
The tussle continued into the third, with neither team gaining much possession or creating any damage on the scoreboard. An unnecessary 50m penalty from Gippsland gave Stingray Ryan Morrison the easiest of shots and brought the margin back to 14 points in favour of the Power at the last break.
Dandenong responded in the fourth quarter, but the ball-winning efforts out of the midfield weren’t translated into scores.
This was in contrast to the Power, which scored at a regular rate with goals to Luke Thompson and Muir stretching the Stingrays to their limit.
Consolation goals to Dandenong’s Billy Rolfe and Ryan Morrison were rare results from a side that frequently put the ball inside the attacking 50, but failed to find the sticks.
Gippsland sealed the win with Damien Hector, Thompson, Chris Williams and Tim Membrey putting the margin out to more than six goals.
Power’s Shaun Wyatt was best afield, gathering 29 kicks and 18 handballs in a dominant display that questions his omission from the Vic Country team.
Best for Dandenong were O’Hanlon, who presented all day, as did ball-carriers Nathan Wright, Damien Johnston and Jackson Dalton.
Gippsland will square off against the North Ballarat Rebels and Dandenong will take on the Eastern Ranges this weekend.
