CALDER CANNONS (5th, 9-6) vs. DANDENONG STINGRAYS (8th, 6-8-1)
Sunday September 1, 11:00am
Ikon Park, Carlton North

Match Preview:

Knockout finals action hits Ikon Park on Sunday as Calder Cannons and Dandenong Stingrays put it all on the line in the first elimination final.

While both sides have been wildly hard to predict throughout the season, enjoying hot runs of form and equally steep slumps, they look to finally be steadying up at the back end of the year. The Cannons could easily have come in boasting six consecutive wins had it not been for an after-the-siren loss to first placed Eastern only a fortnight ago, but have had trouble scoring of late with three straight scores under 65. That’s an area Dandenong has also struggled with during the middle part of the year, with its winning total of 91 last week its highest score since Round 7 (109) – the last time the Stingrays managed to breach the ton. That Wildcard Round win against Murray duly snapped an eight-game losing skid for the reigning premiers, whose core was stripped during the national carnival after looking the goods in an undefeated first eight rounds.

Things are much different now though, and should prove as much when compared to the sides’ previous meeting – a 68-point Calder win in Round 13. Both teams are as close to full strength as possible and with that being the case, Dandenong’s top-end really stands out. The likes of Hayden Young, Ned Cahill, and Cody Weightman have traded the arc for midfield time along with versatile tall Bigoa Nyuon in the ruck, making the Stingrays’ engine room a formidable proposition. On the other hand, Calder’s answers lie in the form of mainstays Daniel Mott, Sam Ramsay, and Ned Gentile, who provide similar spark and excitement through the middle. With capable talls up either end, the midfield battle will be key to the success of the winner here, and the mid-range talent will have to step up.

It remains a hard game to call based on the swinging form of these clubs, but should provide a cracking contest that exceeds what is presented on paper. Expect Dandenong’s top-end class to shine through and make all the difference.

Prediction: Dandenong by 10 points.

Key match-ups:

Daniel Mott vs. Hayden Young

Hopefully we get to see these two line up on each other through midfield as the leading prospects from either side. While Mott has been a midfield mainstay, Young has shown his ability up the ground of late after proving himself as the leading half-back type prospect throughout the year. Both players ooze class and are improving their inside game, with Young holding a height – and aerial – advantage one-on-one.

Sam Ramsay vs. Ned Cahill

These two zippy movers are likely to also butt heads through midfield, with natural forward Cahill a chance to apply the clamps to Calder’s prolific accumulator. Both are a similar size and provide great pressure around the ball, with Ramsay in a hot streak of form. Cahill is coming off a very handy 21 disposals and three goals himself, so it makes for what should be a tight battle.

Head to Head:

2019:

Calder Cannons – 1
Dandenong Stingrays – 0

Overall:

Calder Cannons – 22
Dandenong Stingrays – 19

Teams:

CALDER CANNONS

B: 39. B. Overman, 23. C. Brand, 31. G. Thomas
HB: 5. C. Brown, 38. B. Newman, 32. M. Simpson
C: 29. C. Edwardes, 8. S. Ramsay, 43. L. Gollant
HF: 12. J. O’Sullivan, 21. H. Jones, 2. J. Sutton
F: 44. H. Andronaco, 26. M. Fletcher, 10. H. Minton-Connell
R: 61. J. Hotchkin, 27. N. Gentile, 1. D. Mott
Int: 37. B. Bozinovski, 3. J. Cardillo, 41. J. Eyre, 16. J. Keeping, 60. S. Paea, 48. N. Stewart, 59. D. Tully
23P: 45. F. Gentile

In: B. Bozinovski, J. Eyre, H. Andronaco

DANDENONG STINGRAYS

B: 35. D. Popa, 1. H. Berenger, 37. B. Welsh
HB: 39. J. Toner, 32. B. Kuipers, 2. H. Young
C: 13. N. Heath, 45. L. Goonan, 50. L. Williams
HF: 47. W. Bravo, 17. B. Milford, 11. E. Cahill
F: 10. C. Gay, 20. S. De Koning, 44. C. Weightman
R: 24. B. Nyuon, 58. L. Scott, 4. W. Lewis
Int: 26. J. Andrews, 61. J. Cahill, 27. K. George, 55. P. Gerdan, 9. W. Howe, 14. D. Smith, 30. J. Thomas
23P: 49. C. Macdonald

In: J. Andrews, D. Smith, S. De Koning