TWO MORE Country regions bit the dust after a thrilling pair of quarter final matchups over the weekend. Dandenong Stingrays were pipped after the siren, while Geelong fell agonisingly short of knocking off the minor premiers. We recap the 2025 campaigns of both sides with one eye cast to the future.

>> SEASON REVIEW: 2025 Country Wildcards

DANDENONG STINGRAYS

RECORD: 4th Overall | 2nd Country | 8-7 | 108.1%
STREAK: W | L | W | LL | WWW | L | W | LLL | WW
WILDCARD: def. Murray Bushrangers 7.9 (51) to 4.3 (27)
QUARTER-FINAL: def. by GWV Rebels 11.13 (79) to 12.10 (82)

THE STORY:

Dandenong recovered from a 2-3 start to string together three consecutive wins by midseason, going on to maintain its positive record for the year. The Stingrays also steadied a late-season skid to beat two eventual preliminary finalists and win a slog against Murray in Wildcard Round. That result earned them a home quarter final as the second-ranked Country region, although it was ironically played on the road in Ballarat where GWV Rebels pipped them after the siren.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

Two definitive clumps of wins marked the highlights of Dandenong’s season. The first yielded victories over Calder, Bendigo, and Tasmania to soar into the positive at the season’s midway point. Later on in the campaign, the Stingrays beat minor premier Gippsland after notching their season best 59-point win over GWV Rebels a week prior. The latter result also yielded Dandenong’s highest score – 18.10 (118).

THE STAR:

Noah Hibbins-Hargreaves
Forward/Midfielder | 186cm | 16/11/2007

Season Averages [11 games]: 16.3 disposals, 4.5 marks, 2.0 tackles, 1.5 goals

One of two co-captains for the Stingrays, Hibbins-Hargreaves only managed 11 games amid an injury interrupted campaign and his Vic Country duties. Still, he proved central to Dandenong’s fortunes, continuing his trend of kicking clutch goals and breaking out with five majors from 29 touches in Round 18. Hibbins-Hargreaves booted 16 goals for the season and spent time venturing through midfield to expand his versatility, having mostly cut his teeth as a wing and medium forward.

THE MAINSTAYS:

Ruckman and Vic Country trialist Fraser Marino was the only Stingray to play all of a possible 17 games this season, nailing down his spot with an average 19.1 hitouts. Over-age key defender Adrian Cole was a favourite after switching from Sandringham, being named among the best 10 times in 16 appearances.

Along with Hibbins-Hargreaves, key forward Tairon Ah-Mu earned a national draft combine invite having never been held goalless in his eight games. Midfielder and fellow Vic Country representative Callum Smith was also reliable when available, and did enough to earn a state combine call-up.

There was plenty of running power in Dandenong’s ranks. Max Lee and leading disposal winner Jasper Russell charged forward from defence, while Toby Sinnema was often next in line on the wing, followed by powerful forward JayDe Varlet. All four top-agers represented Vic Country this year.

With 20 goals in 11 outings, Lochie Commons topped the Stingrays’ scoring charts. Utility players Tyson Anic and Oscar Lonie – a Collingwood father-son prospect – were serviceable across 14 appearances each, while midfielder Sam Lewis had some big games among his 12, particularly early in the campaign.

THE FUTURE:

There’s a talented young crop emerging for Dandenong. Tall defender Darcy Szerszyn represented Vic Country’s Under 18s this year and has been selected for the National Futures program alongside Gus Kennedy. The latter is an explosive midfielder/defender who played 16 games this season.

Kennedy was among six Stingrays to turn out for the Vic Country Futures side. Small forward Marcus Prasad looks the most promising of that bunch, along with midfielder Jackson Phillips. Outside of said group, powerful forward Mitch Toner is a wildcard with his exciting traits and physicality.

Dandenong also blooded a trio of Under 16 prospects this year. 2027 Port Adelaide father-son hopeful Louis Salopek showed his class across three outings, including the weekend’s quarter final. Meanwhile, key forward Corey Ah-Mu joined elder brother Tairon at the level, along with Jayden Gourley for one game each.

GEELONG FALCONS

RECORD: 8th Overall | 4th Country | 7-8 | 112.2%
STREAK: LL | W | L | W | L | W | LL | W | L | WW | L | W
WILDCARD: def. Bendigo Pioneers 11.10 (76) to 11.6 (72)
QUARTER FINAL: def. by Gippsland Power 7.9 (51) to 8.11 (59)

THE STORY:

It was an up and down season for Geelong, who only managed to string together consecutive wins in Rounds 15 and 17. The Falcons’ largely win-for-loss streak saw them end up among the bottleneck of three teams on seven wins and eight losses. They were largely competitive throughout the season and had eight games decided by single-digit margins, winning three of those clashes. Their 49-point defeat to Dandenong in Round 1 was the heaviest, though they beat the bottom two sides by 70 points each.

THE HIGHLIGHT:

If selecting a single highlight from the campaign, it has to be Geelong’s dramatic Wildcard Round. Trailing for much of the day against Bendigo, the Falcons snatched the lead late in term four, only to cough it back up with just over a minute left on the clock. Enter Jack Pickett, whose fifth goal won it with seconds to spare. That game came shortly after another thrilling win over the Pioneers in Round 17. The Falcons also got one over minor premier Gippsland in Round 4, and trumped both Murray and Western by 70 points apiece.

THE STAR:

Jesse Mellor
Forward/Midfielder | 185cm | 04/01/2007

Season Averages [13 games]: 16.8 disposals, 4.3 marks, 4.3 tackles, 1.8 goals

Mellor proved to be Geelong’s man for the big moment, stepping up when it mattered most late in the campaign. He produced an exceptional second half to inspire the Falcons’ Wildcard Round win, finishing with four goals. His best goalkicking haul was 5.2 against Tasmania in Round 7, while he spent time in midfield at different stages with a high of 25 touches against GWV in Round 2. Mellor’s vice-like hands, versatility, and ability to score in bunches made him arguably the region’s most important player.

THE MAINSTAYS:

The Falcons had three reliable top-agers play all 17 games this season in midfielder Archer Hanegraaf, defender Fred Lucas, and forward Angus Ford. Their presence ensured key roles were filled on each line in the absence of representative personnel, including the Falcons’ three national combine invitees.

Defender Josh Lindsay and his lethal left-foot kicking make for the region’s leading prospect. He managed six appearances this year amid National Academy, Vic Country, and school football commitments. He’ll attend the national draft combine alongside Mellor and Hugo Mikunda.

The Falcons would have hoped to unleash their second National Academy member in Ben Rongdit more this year, though the athletic defender managed two games before going down with an ACL injury. He still did enough to earn a state combine invite and is part of the Cats’ Next Generation Academy.

Elsewhere, hard-tackling wingman Rilley Aquilina and wiry key position utility Jett Elek added to the region’s Vic Country representatives. Geelong also got good service out of over-agers Kobe George and Daniel Lowther, who plied their trades in defence and the ruck respectively.

THE FUTURE:

Along with three top-agers, Mason Williams played every game for the Falcons in 2025. Key forward Jack Pickett was another 2008-born prospect to make an impact, leading the side’s goalkicking with 31 majors in just eight games. That included a high of seven against Western in Round 15.

Pickett has been selected for the National Futures program alongside tough midfielder Noah Williams. The speedy small played 10 games, averaging 5.8 tackles. Geelong also had a further six players turn out for the Vic Country Futures, with midfielders Charlie Hanegraaf and Darcy Harrington impressing.

Outside of that group, diminutive midfielder/forward Archer Chamberlain established his spot in the side with 15 games. The Falcons also blooded Under 16 Vic Country representatives Charlie Montebello and Tom Steinfort for two and three games respectively, the latter being a Cats NGA prospect.