Gippsland Power win Under 18's Grand Final

Gippsland   12. 9. 81 defeated Dandenong   10. 6. 66

It was only fitting that the season's two best sides in the TAC Cup took the field to battle for the premiership.

The Gippsland Power, led by its captain Steven O'Bryan, finished the regular season on top of the ladder and entered the game as the favourite. In the opposition rooms, the Dandenong Stingrays enjoyed an excellent start to the season, winning ten of its opening eleven games.

The scene was set for the nation's most promising youngsters to strut their stuff on the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Right from the opening bounce, it was evident that a high scoring game was very unlikely. Both teams' defensive efforts paid dividends. When an opportunity presented itself to Stingrays' Full Forward Aaron Murray, who entered the game having kicked 31 goals in his eleven games for the season, he took it with both hands and slotted through the goal for the first major of the game. Unfortunately for the Stingrays' faithful it would be the only goal for them in the opening term.

The work of Dale Thomas of the Gippsland Power, providing blistering pace and death defying skill, paid off as he was able to kick his first of four majors he would end up with. Thomas, named on the wing in the Team of the Year, has a lot of Adam Cooney about him in the way he reads the play and attacks the footy.

Up forward for the Power, it was 17-year-old Brett Dore who provided the opportunities Gippsland was after, and he was able to take a couple of strong grabs and kick a long goal in the opening term. The booming left foot kick stands at 188 centimetres and weighs in at a massive 107 kilograms.

In defence for the Power, it was the work of Craig Flint and Robert Eddy who prevented the Stingrays from scoring opportunities with strong marking and smart defending.

If it weren't for the tremendous midfield work of Daniel Nicholls, the Stingrays would have been in serious trouble at quarter time. Nicholls' electrifying pace and sensational reading of the play is the reason why he was named in the Team of the Year.

Just seconds before the quarter time siren, the solid Brett Dore found himself in a mini push and shove with the incredibly courageous Sam Carpenter, who lost half of his right arm in a mincer several years ago.

As the quarter time siren sounded, the elated Power entered their huddle in front by sixteen points.

It turned from good to very good for the Power early in the second term, when Jay Neagle, the son of former Essendon superstar Merv, kicked his 59th goal of the season, which ranks him second overall on the goal kicking table.

Minutes later, Xavier Ellis pulled out something special from the heavens with a stunning mark 45 metres out directly in front and he finished his great work with a precise kick for the Powers' fifth consecutive goal.

Power midfielder Chris Dunne, named in the Team of the Year and averaging 21 disposals per game, proved a catalyst for the Power. His teammate, Trent West, was dominating in the ruck. The athletic ruckman's second and third efforts stand out for a big man. Expect both names to be mentioned on National Draft day.

Three unanswered goals to the Stingrays; two to Brian Cook and one to David Comben, helped Dandenong build some momentum entering the second half. Their hard work amounted to little when the flashy Dale Thomas soared high to take a strong pack mark inside 50 for the Power, and his wobbly kick hovered through the big sticks to swing the pendulum back in his side's favour.

For the Stingrays, the efforts of midfielders Nathan Jones, Travis Tuck, Daniel Nicholls and Full Back Kirkwood were keeping them in the game.

At the other end of the scale, Dale Thomas, Ricky Delphine, Craig Flint, Trent West and Xavier Ellis were doing their best to kick away from the opposition.

At half time, Gippsland led Dandenong 41 to 26.

The first goal of the second half came from the bottom of the incredible Dale Thomas, whose freakish goal, his third of the match, received a jubilant reception from the thousands in the crowd.

When Ricky Delphine received a heavy knock soon after, the Stingrays pounced and Brian Cook's third goal saw the margin get back to within three straight kicks.

The work of Kirkwood at Full Back was a positive for the Dandenong camp, but when Neagle took just his second mark and kicked his second goal with his second kick, it seemed very unlikely that the Stingrays would hold the premiership cup aloft.

The work of Nathan Jones in the centre kept the game within striking distance for the Dandenong side and, when David Comben marked and kicked his second goal just before half time, the spirits seemed to rise a little in the Stingrays coaching box.

At three quarter time, Gippsland led Dandenong 62-40.

Having come from 51 points behind against Gippsland in an earlier meeting this season, Dandenong knew the game was well and truly within striking distance. It seemed as though the Stingrays would come home the strong side, and the last quarter delivered plenty.

When Scott Pendlebury goaled early on, the 28-point lead seemed almost safe. But Nathan Jones had other ideas. The centreman picked up an incredible fifteen final quarter possessions to help his side back into the game.

When Aaron Murray kicked his second goal, the margin was reduced back to 22 points. Soon after, David Comben marks strongly and kicks accurately to reduce the margin to just sixteen points, and the Stingrays began to sense a come from behind victory.

It was apparent that the Stingrays were running out the game the better of the two and, when Ricky Delphine's undisciplined play awarded a free kick to Dale Nicholls, the crowd began getting behind the Comeback Kings. Nicholls' precise kick found Cook, who had the opportunity to see the margin back to just a 10-point deficit, but his kick missed to the right, which enabled the Power to take a deep breath and reload.

When David Comben found the Birthday boy, Alex Lee, inside 50, the 17-year-old responded in fine fashion with the straightest of straight kicks. The margin was just ten points and six minutes remained.

But it was to be the day of Dale Thomas and his Gippsland Power outfit. Thomas was able to put a nail in the heart of Dandenong when he kicked his fourth goal and the sealer.

That goal capped off a brilliant game from Thomas, who was rightly awarded the Best on Ground award as the Gippsland Power was able to come away with a highly entertaining fifteen point win.

Best:
Gippsland - Thomas, West, Flint, Ellis, Delphine, Dunne.
Dandenong - Jones, Nicholls, Tuck, Cook, Kirkwood, Comben.

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