NAB League Boys: Ned Moodie bags five goals from eight touches for Dandenong Stingrays

Dandenong Stingrays started their season in style, playing 12 first-gamers and defeating Eastern Ranges at SkyBus Stadium.

Ned Moodie (right) celebrates of the Dandenong Stingrays celebrates one of his five goals. Pic: Jasmine Bennett

Twelve first-gamers.

Five goals for Ned Moodie.

Thirty-one possessions for Taj Campbell-Farrell.

And, the most pleasing number for the Dandenong Stingrays, a 14-point win over Eastern Ranges in Round 1 of the NAB League Boys season.

The Stingrays opened their campaign as part of a triple-header at SkyBus Stadium last Saturday, playing after the Rays’ Girls team’s semi-final against Geelong Falcons and before Frankston’s VFL clash with GWS.

One point in front at half time, they had the better of the second half to take a 12.9 (81) to 9.13 (67) victory.

The girls also won, making for a Dandy double.

Moodie kicked five goals from eight possessions at half forward, a strong start to the season for a talented player.

“He grabbed his opportunities when they came his way,’’ Stingrays coach Nick Cox said.

“He’s a pure footballer. His conditioning is something he’s working on and I’m sure we’ll see it come through in the backhalf of the season. He’s neat and skilful,’’ he said of the son of former Dandenong VFA player Shane Moodie.

Taj Campbell Farrell of the Dandenong Stingrays gets away a handball. Pic: Jasmine Bennett

Finn Emille-Brennan (30 disposals) was a standout across half back, and onballers Campbell-Farrell, Jai Culley (27), captain Mitch Szybkowski (26) and Nick Collier (22) handled the ball surely and often.

Henry Hustwaite (24) did the same, and Jaxon Binns (19) did more than a few good things.

Culley added the sparkle of three goals to a performance sure to have been noted by AFL recruiters, and Justin Davies, played as a defender last season but being tried in attack in 2022, booted two goals.

Davies trained with Carlton VFL over summer and is with the Blues’ development squad.

Emille-Brennan was playing his first game for the Stingrays and stood out with his precise kicking.

“He kicks it better than anyone in our team,’’ Cox said.

“He’d fall over on a windy day, but he’s got some talent and definitely one who’s jumped out of the ground.’’

Stingrays skipper Mitch Szybkowski boots his team forward. Pic: Jasmine Bennett

Flynn Wood, Billy Wilson, Emile-Brennan, Cooper Simpson, Brodie Morrish, Szybkowski, Sam Latreille, Mitch Smith, Harry Collopy, Kade De La Rue, Hugo Noisiara and Kobe Shipp all had their first games for the Rays.

Noisiara took his chance with 19 possessions. He also took the mark of the day.

Shipp and De La Rue are the sons of Springvale VFL premiership players Andrew Shipp (who also played in the AFL with Fremantle) and Ben De La Rue (who captained the Stingrays in 1993).