DANDENONG Stingrays pulled off a successful raid of Tasmania on Sunday, defeating the Devils by 71 points at North Hobart Oval on Sunday. The visitors led at every break and flexed their scoring muscle against a wayward Tasmanian side, which managed only six fewer scoring shots in the Round 22 clash.

Diminutive Dandenong forward Marcus Prasad led the assault with five goals, backed up by four to tall Bentley Avenell. Meanwhile, vice-captain Darcy Szerszyn was terrific on the back of his VFL debut for North Melbourne. For Tasmania, a promising crop of bottom-agers continue to emerge.

We took note of the top prospects from either side.

TASMANIA DEVILS 1.5 | 2.9 | 2.10 | 4.13 (37)
DANDENONG STINGRAYS 3.1 | 7.2 | 11.5 | 17.6 (108)

GOALS:
Tasmania Devils: L. Heazlewood 2, C. Barwick, J. Bula
Dandenong Stingrays: M. Prasad 5, B. Avenell 4, D. Linden 2, M. Toner 2, L. Salopek, A. Sousa, C. Stuart, N. Wisken

BEST:
Tasmania Devils: J. Beams, S. Husband, L. Heazlewood, A. Devine, M. Gulliver
Dandenong Stingrays: M. Prasad, D. Szerszyn, M. Toner, B. Avenell, W. Antrobus

TASMANIA DEVILS:

#1 Lucas Heazlewood
Small Forward | 172cm | 03/02/2009

Stats: 9 disposals, 4 marks, 2 goals

The lively small forward had a very productive first half. He initiated scoring for the Devils with a nice set-shot goal from about 40 meters out. He then opened up the next quarter with his side’s second goal from another set shot and applied great pressure around forward 50 stoppages. A more efficient game would have netted him a decent goal haul. 

#5 Jake Beams
Defender | 181cm | 22/12/2009

Stats: 28 disposals, 8 marks, 7 inside 50s

Beams did his best work around the centre as an interceptor, able to routinely cut off Dandenong disposals. He reeled in a number of aggressive intercept marks early in the game and also took kick-outs for his side without diminishing his impact up the ground. 

#6 Archie Devine
Defender | 181cm | 13/02/2008

Stats: 23 disposals, 5 marks, 4 rebound 50s

The consistent accumulator did just that. Devine was busy all afternoon creating momentum from kick-outs and defensive 50 rebounds. The majority of disposals were accurate chip passes and well-weighted handballs. 

#9 Sam Husband
Midfielder | 178cm | 17/09/2009

Stats: 21 disposals, 5 clearances, 7 inside 50s

Tasmania’s hardest-working on-baller was a key pillar of resistance at stoppages. Husband was the focal point in the midfield for the Devils and used his grit and skill to win the ball out of scrimmages. Around the ground, he linked up with hands through the centre and delivered the ball inside 50 with varied success. 

#21 Tom Geappen
Defender | 182cm | 28/07/2008

Stats: 20 disposals, 10 marks, 4 inside 50s

Geappen found the ball across the three lines with relative ease. He spent time forward but was best in the back half of the ground where he could pick off errant disposals. The versatile Devil competently applied his solid ball use and decision-making. 

DANDENONG STINGRAYS:

#1 Darcy Szerszyn
Defender | 188cm | 20/05/2008

Stats: 25 disposals, 7 marks, 12 rebound 50s

Szerszyn’s athleticism and agility couldn’t be contained; his speed out of defence was unmatched. The wiry defender was once one of the architects behind the Stingrays’ ball movement. He also still played an important defensive role, blanketing the Devils’ offence through timely spoils and well-read intercept marks. 

#4 Marcus Prasad
Small Forward | 167cm | 23/03/2008

Stats: 16 disposals, 4 marks, 4 tackles, 5 goals

Prasad was effective at the coalface, securing clean possession and neatly delivering the ball forward. The crafty small was devastating while playing in his usual high forward role. He also impacted deeper, leading superbly out of the goalsquare, marking unimpeded, and capitalising on ground balls inside 50. 

#5 Bentley Avenell
Key Forward | 198cm | 28/11/2008

Stats: 11 disposals, 7 marks, 17 hitouts, 4 goals

The tall forward’s superlative reach was a significant advantage on Sunday, and importantly, he held onto his marks. His set shot kicking was excellent and resulted in him slotting the first goal of the game. Avenell chopped out in the ruck, assisting Jack Vaughan ably. 

#6 Mitch Toner
Forward | 186cm | 16/01/2008

Stats: 19 disposals, 3 inside 50s, 2 goals

Toner was dangerous when the ball hit the ground inside 50, where the burly forward could brush off tackles and finish accurately in front of goal. He was strong overhead and tough to catch on the lead, as usual. Toner intermittently pushed up to the centre and facilitated possession chains. 

#8 Wil Antrobus
Defender | 182cm | 18/04/2008

Stats: 26 disposals, 4 tackles, 5 rebound 50s

Dandenong was again reliant on Antrobus’ powerful left boot to transition the ball from defence to offence. The trusted ball user was likely the leading meters-gained player on the ground. His kick-outs often went well over 50 meters and ended up in the centre square. A shift up the ground later in the game proved a canny move, as his side took advantage of his prodigious kicking. 

#15 Louis Salopek (Port Adelaide F/S)
Utility | 186cm | 16/02/2009

Stats: 17 disposals, 7 rebound 50s, 1 goal

The high-intensity bottom-ager once again impressed. Salopek punished opposition mistakes, which resulted in a goal from a forward half intercept. He was entrusted with kick-outs in the second half, allowing Antrobus to play slightly higher up the ground. He applied his ruthlessness on the ball to the back half with good effect.