TAC Cup 2018: Dandenong Stingrays are out to win their first premiership in the TAC Cup

CAN Stingrays coach and former captain Craig Black steer the Dandenong Stingrays to their first premiership in the TAC Cup? He’ll get the chance in this Saturday’s grand final

WILL this be the Dandenong Stingrays’ year?

In their 27th season in the TAC Cup, will they finally break through for a premiership?

The Stingrays have been runners-up five times but everything suggests the 2018 team can confirm the lofty talk being made about it since the early rounds and give the club a first flag.

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On Saturday the Stingrays swept past the Sandringham Dragons by 42 points in the preliminary final at Carlton to go into the grand final, where they’ll meet the Oakleigh Chargers.

It was the Rays’ 13th consecutive victory.

After a tight opening quarter, the Dragons kicked successive goals early in the second term to move seven points clear.

Little Ned Cahill steadied the Dandenong side after making a tackle and winning a free kick.

Riley Bowman wins a tap for the Stingrays.

Soon after the Dragons muffed a kick-out and Sam Sturt was there to swoop and set up a goal for Toby Bedford. That put the Stingrays in front by six points, which Bedford doubled when he curled one back from a set-shot on the boundary line, no easy task considering the swirling wind.

The Dragons got one back just before half time.

But the Stingrays ran away with it in the second half, fired by Bedford’s third goal, eight minutes into the third quarter. Big Bailey Williams brought the ball to ground from a marking contest and missed Bedford with a handball, but the speedster doubled back and snapped it through, another brilliant effort from the speedster.

Three minutes later Fin Bayne darted into an open goal and the lead was out to 20 points. There was no way back for the Dragons, not after successive goals from Jai Taylor.

Dandenong had winners all over the ground, but one of its key cogs was in the middle, co-captain Campbell Hustwaite, who had 27 possessions, nine clearances, five inside 50s and four tackles.

Ned Cahill (right) after kicking a goal for the Stingrays.

Jamie Plumridge had 21 disposals and Sam Fletcher 20; Riley Bowman and Stephen Cumming worked in tandem to nullify Dragons ruckman James Rendall; and the backline was resolute again.

Key forward Williams finished with 3.3, a good return in the conditions.

“We were challenged from a fired-up Dragons in the first quarter, I think our players may have thought they were going to get a game like we had in Round 16,’’ Dandenong Stingrays talent manager Mark Wheeler said.

“Craig (coach Craig Black) quickly snapped them back into line at the quarter time huddle saying no one was ever going to gift a spot into a grand final.

“It’s been a great year. I am very proud that the players have got the opportunity to play in what many never achieve — an opportunity to play in a grand final.

“This group is very tight and focused. They know what they want to achieve together.’’

Despite the Stingrays’ long run of wins, Wheeler declared the Chargers would have to be considered favourites for the grand final, noting they had won their past three matches by three-figure margins.

Stingray Toby Bedford loses his jumper in a stoush with Dragon Kai Owens.

Wheeler took time to praise the club’s support staff.

“I can’t thank our staff enough for what they do for the players and our club, they are amazing, loyal and passionate … Bob Burns has been with us since 1992, with nearly 10 others completing 20-years plus of service,’’ he said.

“Hopefully the players can achieve their goal next week, then the staff can get some reward for their amazing efforts too.”

Black captained the first Stingrays team to make a grand final, in 1997, when North Ballarat Rebel Adam Goodes denied the Dandenong team with six goals.

The grand final will be Black’s last match as coach: he’s joined Collingwood in a development role.

“It would be awesome to win it,’’ he said this morning.

“I just hope the boys can get the reward for all the hard work they’ve put in this year.’’

The grand final will be played at Princes Park next Saturday.

Dandenong Stingrays 2.1, 6.3, 11.7, 14.11 (95) d Sandringham Dragons 1.2, 5.3, 6.3, 8.5 (53)

Stingrays goals: Bailey Williams 3, Toby Bedford 3, Ned Cahill 2, Jai Taylor 2, Sam Sturt 2, Zack Foot, Finlay Bayne.

Best: Campbell Hustwaite, William Hamill, Bailey Williams, Sam Fletcher, Toby Bedford, Riley Bowman.