DANDENONG Stingrays are one of the strongest sides coming into season 2018. Last year they had six players drafted, including three in the first round with Luke Davies-Uniacke (North Melbourne), Hunter Clark (St Kilda) and Aiden Bonar (GWS) all selected – two of which will play their first AFL games this weekend. Others that were drafted include draft bolter Tom De Koning (Carlton), Oscar Clavarino (St Kilda) and Tom Murphy (North Melbourne).

In terms of top-end talent, very few teams compare, especially considering they have four genuine key position players who took part in the AFL AIS Academy camp in Darwin. Twins Stephen and Matthew Cumming did not play a game last year but have impressed with a huge off-season, joining Bailey Williams and Riley Bowman as tall timber set to assist them across the ground. Bowman played 10 games in 2017, while Williams managed 18 to be a strong target up forward when Bowman was rucking.

But it is not just the key position players where Dandenong has depth, the likes of Sam Fletcher and Mitch Riordan lead a host of players that give the Stingrays plenty of optimism about the season ahead. Heading forward, the dangerous Jai Nanscawen (Averaged 1.7 goals per game in 2017) is always a threat and the classy midfielder in Will Hamill is likely to shine in his top-age year. Throw in the likes of Campbell Hustwaite (12 games) and Finlay Bayne (10 games) and the team has some serious depth. One player who did not get a chance to show his wares last season is Aaron Darling, whose season was derailed by a knee reconstruction. The elite kick missed the entire 2017 season and never got to follow-on from his bottom-age year given the AFL AIS Academy member was highly touted.

Others who became regulars last season in the Stingrays side were 19 year-olds Angus Patterson (20 games) and Lachlan Young (17), as well as Jamie Plumridge (16) and Jai Taylor (12). An excitement machine who just needs to find consistency is Toby Bedford, who with time could become a really valuable contributor. With a number of bottom-agers coming through the side, it is hard to find many weaknesses in the Stingrays line-up and you get the feeling they will be a great team to watch in 2018.

2017 Stats:

2017 Summary:

Dandenong Stingrays’ start to 2017 could best be described as a yo-yo. They broke even in the first 10 games, taking until round 10 to notch up consecutive wins. They continued their form with three more victories – against Western Jets, Calder Cannons and Northern Knights. They dropped a game to Gippsland Power, before storming home to win three of the last four games and reach the finals.

In the elimination final, the Stingrays looked down and out, but a superior performance from guns Luke Davies-Uniacke and Hunter Clark hauled them back from a mammoth deficit to run over the top of Eastern Ranges in a fantastic 13-point win. Unfortunately for the Stingrays, eventual premiers Geelong Falcons proved too good the following week, going down by 39 points at Simonds Stadium in the preliminary final.

2018 Snapshot:

Dandenong staff, players and families will get a great tour of the state in the opening month, travelling to five different venues in five rounds. The Stingrays kick-off their campaign at GMHBA Stadium this Sunday, followed by a clash in Morwell against the Gippsland Power in round two. The Country Triple Header occurs in round three which pits the Stingrays against the GWV Rebels, before a home game at Shepley Oval and a short trip down the Princes Highway to Warrawee Park.

Dandenong plays six games at Shepley Oval and two further matches at Skybus Stadium in Frankston. After their early three road trips, the Stingrays make just one trip to a country region – to face the Falcons at Mars Stadium on August 18.

2018 Fixture:

Dandenong Stingrays 2018

Date	Game	Time/Results	Venue	Article
2018-03-25 14:00:33March 25, 2018	Geelong Falcons vs Dandenong Stingrays	47 - 100	Gmhba Stadium	Recap
2018-03-30 13:30:45March 30, 2018	Gippsland Power vs Dandenong Stingrays	52 - 76	Morwell Recreational Reserve	Recap
2018-04-07 12:30:15April 7, 2018	Dandenong Stingrays vs GWV Rebels	133 - 35	Queen Elizabeth Oval	Recap
2018-04-22 12:30:10April 22, 2018	Dandenong Stingrays vs Western Jets	167 - 41	Shepley Oval	Recap
2018-04-28 13:45:51April 28, 2018	Oakleigh Chargers vs Dandenong Stingrays	72 - 66	Warrawee Park	Recap
2018-05-12 14:00:16May 12, 2018	Dandenong Stingrays vs Eastern Ranges	91 - 39	Shepley Oval	Recap
2018-05-19 15:00:43May 19, 2018	Murray Bushrangers vs Dandenong Stingrays	87 - 109	Rams Arena	Recap
2018-06-03 10:45:15June 3, 2018	Dandenong Stingrays vs Sandringham Dragons	105 - 28	Shepley Oval	Recap
2018-06-16 14:15:42June 16, 2018	Dandenong Stingrays vs Oakleigh Chargers	95 - 40	Shepley Oval	Recap
2018-06-23 13:00:42June 23, 2018	Dandenong Stingrays vs GWV Rebels	106 - 47	Shepley Oval	Recap
2018-07-07 14:00:11July 7, 2018	Dandenong Stingrays vs Geelong Falcons	115 - 37	Shepley Oval	Recap
2018-07-21 13:00:15July 21, 2018	Dandenong Stingrays vs Bendigo Pioneers	111 - 45	Shepley Oval	Recap
2018-07-29 11:30:53July 29, 2018	Calder Cannons vs Dandenong Stingrays	42 - 82	Rams Arena	Recap
2018-08-04 14:00:40August 4, 2018	Northern Knights vs Dandenong Stingrays	50 - 67	Preston City Oval	Recap
2018-08-18 12:30:13August 18, 2018	Geelong Falcons vs Dandenong Stingrays	37 - 55	Mars Stadium	Recap
2018-08-25 10:30:50August 25, 2018	Dandenong Stingrays vs Sandringham Dragons	93 - 46	Trevor Barker Oval	Recap
2018-09-08 12:00:04September 8, 2018	Dandenong Stingrays vs GWV Rebels	134 - 24	Ikon Park	Recap
2018-09-15 11:30:04September 15, 2018	Dandenong Stingrays vs Sandringham Dragons	95 - 53	Ikon Park	Recap
2018-09-22 12:05:43September 22, 2018	Dandenong Stingrays vs Oakleigh Chargers	80 - 74	Ikon Park	Recap