Dandenong Stingrays narrowly fall to Eastern Ranges
Dandenong Stingrays are showing signs of returning to their best despite a narrow loss to the NAB League ladder-leader Eastern Ranges.
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Dandenong Stingrays came close to causing a major upset in the NAB League on Saturday.
The Stingrays hit the goals more often than ladder-leader opponents Eastern Ranges, but it was the visitors who ended up prevailing at Shepley Oval, 5.16 (46) to 6.5 (41).
Coach Nick Cox said it was a disappointing finish but he was rapt with the players’ efforts throughout the day.
“It was a really pleasing day for us,” he said.
“We competed for periods of the game against really good opposition, unfortunately just come out without the chocolates at the end.
“We had a lot of winners on the day, which is fairly different from the last few weeks. We had more winners all over the ground.”
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The coach said he could have listed “10 or 12 players” among the team’s best, but was most impressed with skipper Hayden Young, Ed Cahill and Bigoa Nyuon in the ruck, while Clayton Gay was “exceptional” in defence. Cahill and Corey Ellison kicked two goals apiece.
“We were really flat after the game because even though the scoreboard showed Rangers had more shots, we thought we had an opportunity to win the game,” Cox said.
Taking on four of the top-five teams in the past four rounds hasn’t helped Dandenong’s win-loss record, with Saturday being its seventh defeat in a row, but Cox said there had been definite signs of improvement.
“The last few games have been against really good, quality opposition, who have some really talented players on their lists,” he said.
“We built this up as a really big challenge for us as individuals and as a team, to see where we stand in the footy world.”
The August 18 game against Geelong Falcons will be the team’s last hitout before finals.
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