September 6th & 7th
After both teams advanced in their respective games last weekend, the stages were set for another big couple of days with the boys clashing against the GWV Rebels in the quarter finals at Mars Stadium, while the girls took on the Oakleigh Chargers in the preliminary finals at Shepley Oval.
For the boys on Saturday, Tairon Ah-Mu got us on the board early in the fourth minute with a neat checkside from the boundary.
But GWV hit back immediately by adding two of their own soon after.
Ah-Mu got dangerous again and goaled from long range to level the scores.
The Rebels then found their third a couple of minutes later to continue the back and forth trend.
Next, Lochie Commons kicked truly to give us back the lead before Louis Salopek bobbed up and goaled for our fourth.
On the brink of quarter time, Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves found the big sticks to give us a handy thirteen-point lead after one term.
Ah-Mu continued his dominance, booting his third of the game in the sixth minute.
However, GWV answered as the goals kept flowing.
Another came for them as our lead was cut down to just six points, and a few minutes later the scores were level again.
Unfortunately we couldn’t get anything before the half time break and went into the change rooms down two singular points.
The Rebels kicked the first two of the second half before we finally hit back through Commons in the eleventh minute which gave the side some spark.
Continuing to press, Commons marked strongly near goal to put through his third and give us back the lead.
Next it was Jack Lawrence who kicked his weekly major in the twentieth minute to push the margin out further.
After setting up the last, Ah-Mu put through a quick snap to give us our tenth as the game had turned.
Unfortunately, GWV found one late in the term to halt our momentum.
It was a nine-point game at the final change.
The final term was tense with the Rebels immediately scoring in the last to cut the margin under a straight kick. We had our chances – three behinds in a row – but unable to fully take advantage of our territory control.
In the twelfth minute we turned defence into offence as Lawrence found Avenell on the lead who converted to extend the lead.
But GWV answered to keep the game in balance.
The next ten minutes were played between the arcs as the tensions rose.
Our defence was holding strong but constant entries meant the Rebels eventually found an opening. They found a mark right before the game’s end with our lead under a straight kick.
And heartbreak as they tragically goaled after the siren to win.
In a see-sawing affair, we fell 11.13 (79) to 12.10 (82) and were knocked out of the finals series.
Ah-Mu led us for touches with 22, Callum Smith had 21, while Louis Hodder (17) and Toby Sinnema (16) both accumulated.
JayDe Varlet, Salopek, and Hibbins-Hargreaves all had fifteen or more of their own and were great contributors.
Down back, Adrian Cole and Darcy Szerszyn did all they could.
A tough way to go out but the boys have heaps to celebrate in what was a great season.
Fast forward to Sunday, it was the girls facing off in windy wild conditions.
Oakleigh struck first but we answered soon after through Ruby Geurts.
Given the circumstances, the ball was played between the two arcs for the first part of the game.
Evelyn Connolly put home a little dribble kick to put us on the front foot nearing the end of the quarter.
After one term we had a seven point lead.
A couple of big defensive efforts early on in the second included a Scarlett Marsh intercept mark and holding the ball tackle from Jasmine Stephenson.
It was a stalemate quarter with both teams struggling to move the ball.
Dandenong was on top of the game but were unable to majorly damage the scoreboard.
Eventually we got one through Connolly, who slotted a set shot in the seventeenth minute.
Going into the main break we led by three straight goals.
We kept fighting to start the second half.
Connolly added another in the third before Geurts nailed another to extend our lead out further.
Our defence was holding strong, keeping the Chargers to another goalless term.
At the final change we led by twenty-eight points.
Oakleigh quickly got on the board in the last.
But we stayed the course, and as the rain came pouring down, Geurts put home another in the tenth minute to just about seal the deal.
Stephenson then rolled one through from long range as the girls started the early celebrations.
Connolly put the finishing touches on after the siren for her fourth as we ran out 8.8 (56) to 2.3 (15) winners over a strong Chargers side.
A remarkable effort.
Mizuki Brothwell led the way for disposals with 23 and gave us some run off half back while Matilda Argus (21) played her usual game.
Charlotte Hewitson (19 disposals) was also great down back.
In the ruck, Sophie White was immense, hauling in thirty-three hitouts as was Gabrielle Mehrmann down back.
The girls will now take on the Eastern Ranges in the grand final on Saturday (20/9) at IKON Park.
Dandenong Southern Stingrays 