Rays ready to sting

By Paul Pickering
“WE think we’re going OK.”
Dandenong Stingrays coach Graeme Yeats is understandably coy about his side’s prospects for the 2010 TAC Cup.
The Stingrays, runners-up in 2008 and 2009, have a target on their heads on the eve of their season opener against Gippsland this Saturday.
Gone are the likes of 2009 skippers and AFL draftees Tom Scully and Ryan Bastinac, but there is plenty of promise in the 2010 Rays.
Newly appointed co-captains Luke Parker and Mitch Hallahan are both established stars of the competition, making them worthy mentors for one of the most talented groups of bottom-age players in the club’s history.
Parker, an AIS-AFL Academy member who finished equal third in the league best-and-fairest last year, could be anything.
He kicked 36 goals in 2009, playing as a roaming forward and switching on-ball, but has been tearing up the track this summer and looks set to spend more time in the engine room.
Same goes for Hallahan, who was more than handy for Vic Country in the under-18 championships last year. Yeats intends to use the former state champion boxer in a variety of roles again this season but, given his courage and poise, one can assume he’ll be an asset in the clinches.
Hallahan and Parker will get solid support from returning key-position stars Andrew McInnes and Jarryd Amalfi, as well as top-age midfielders Riley Heddles, Mitch Gent, Matt Lee, Ben Wells, Nathan Allen and ruckman Daniel Harrison.
Yeats has been delighted with the tone set by his leadership group – including vice-captains McInnes and Gent – during the pre-season.
“They set a good example on the track, because they work hard and they never miss a beat,” he said. “They’re the types of kids who’ve allowed us to become a strong TAC Cup club.”
And that success looks likely to continue, with six bottom-age Stingrays participating in the Vic Country under-17 future stars program.
They are Adam Treloar, Dylan Shiel, Matt Buntine, Piva Wright, Jordan Kelly and Todd Elton.
Treloar was a revelation last season, playing with extraordinary skill and composure in his five matches at under-18 level. He also won the Kevin Sheehan Medal as the best player in the national under-16 carnival.
Another exciting talent is 16-year-old Narre Warren junior Jason Salopek, the brother of Port Adelaide star Steven. Salopek stands just 173cm and 62kg, but his stunning pre-season form – in wins over Murray and North Ballarat – has thrust him into contention for a round one debut.
And he won’t be the only youngster unveiled at Morwell this weekend.
Yeats says he can’t remember inheriting such a talented group of new faces during his time at Shepley Oval.
“I reckon we’ve got 12 or 14 bottom-agers who could nearly play round one,” he said.“And while we don’t put any great expectation on them as 17-year-olds, you’d think we’d be in better shape (than last year) with the personnel that has come through.
“How good we’ll be will depend on how quickly some of our kids develop, and whether we can keep our better players on the ground.”
Saturday’s traditional season-opener against Gippsland will start at 1pm, with the Stingrays and Power under-16s to clash in the curtain-raiser.