NAB League 2019: Stingrays kick off season with narrow win over Rebels

The Dandenong Stingrays fielded 13 players new to the NAB League when they played Greater Western Victoria Rebels in Round 1 of the NAB League.

They were as green as the ground they were playing on.

But the Dandenong Stingrays made an encouraging start to the 2019 NAB League when they gained a six-point win over Greater Western Victoria Rebels at MARS Stadium on Saturday.

The Rays went into the match with 13 debutants, nine of them bottom-agers, and a snappy start — they kicked five goals to one in the opening term — set them up for a Round 1 win.

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“Good to get a few of the cobwebs out of the way and get on the board early,’’ coach Nick Cox said.

“We were really good in the first half and possibly should have put the game to bed.

“To the Rebels’ credit they came back and could have pinched it.

“Really pleased we (stayed in front) … exciting, because we’ve got an unknown group and they’ll get some confidence from it.’’

The Stingrays named Lachie Williams as their best player for his efforts across half back, mixing defence with a willingness to create attacks.

Skipper Hayden Young played in a few positions, and wherever he was he played well; Jack Toner (the son of former Narre Warren premiership coach Chris) was busy in the midfield; 17-year-old Clayton Gay was at half back and went forward to kick two goals and have more than 20 touches; and 19-year-old Jai Nanscawen had 20 disposals and kicked 1.4.

Injury restricted Jai Nanscawen to three games last year but he made a handy return to the club on Saturday.

Cox saw “a lot of really good moments’’: an important goal from Kobi George and a telling mark in the last quarter from Henry Berenger.

George is the son of classy former Dandenong and Frankston VFA/VFL half forward Davie George.

“I think we’ll improve each week on the back of players learning how hard it is to play the standard,’’ Cox said. “We might surprise a few this year but we might get beaten by a lot at times as well. We’ll be right.’’

Berenger, Gay, George, Darius Popa, Harry Sullivan, Sam Merrick, Nathan Heath, James Thomas, Deakyn Smith, Jake Stuart, Max Gregory, William Bravo and Bryce Milford were on debut for the Stingrays.

There were no injuries, but Cox remains on the sore list after undergoing surgery last week to repair a fractured cheekbone, suffered in a drill at training.

Dandenong Stingrays 5.2, 7.6, 10.8, 13.8 (86)

d Greater Western Victoria Rebels 1.4, 2.8, 6.9, 11.14 (80)

Dandenong Stingrays goals: E. Cahill 2, B. Nyuon 2, C. Gay 2, H. Sullivan, L. Goonan, J. Toner, K. George, H. Berenger, C. Weightman, J. Nanscawen.

Best: L. Williams, J. Toner, C. Gay, J. Nanscawen, D. Popa, B. Schmidt