IT must have been the week for small forwards and ground-breaking wins, with a number of fantastic individual and team performances scattered across the TAC Cup, TAC Cup Girls and AFL, to create this weekend’s most memorable moments.

Stingrays clock up first win

Much like the Oakleigh Chargers, Gippsland Power and Western Jets before them, the Dandenong Stingrays Girls certainly celebrated when the final siren sounded at Shepley Oval yesterday. The Stingrays had come so close to victory in the weeks leading up to their round six clash with the Jets, but the breakthrough win finally came after a strong first half catapulted them to victory. Courtney Jones and Isabella Shannon booted two goals each, while Tyanna Smith, Brooke Vernon, Jordyn Allen and Saige Bayne were strong in defence and through the middle.

Oakleigh’s top-end shines

It was a long time between wins but when they win, the Oakleigh Chargers know how to do it in style. They belted Gippsland in round one but since then it has been slim pickings. However on Sunday, the Chargers were back to full-strength and all their top-end talent stood up with Daisy Bateman booting a bag of goals, as Katie Lynch, Hannah McLaren and Nicola Xenos all impressed. They always seem better than the scoreboard reflected most weeks and they finally got reward for effort yesterday.

Tarryn’s special efforts

North Melbourne Next Generation Academy talent Tarryn Thomas lit up Shepley Oval on Sunday morning with a three-goal match-winning performance for Tasmania. Thomas was best on ground for the Mariners as they claimed their second victory in as many games, defeating Northern Territory to remain equal first in the overall stakes with Sydney Swans Academy. Thomas’ last quarter in particular was impressive, booting 2.2 and assisting in another goal with a sharp pass. He looked dangerous every time he went near the ball and it is hard for Kangaroos fans not to get excited about the prospect of having him.

Blakey’s special seven

Just when potential father-son and Academy prospect Nick Blakey seemed to have shown all his cards with a five-goal haul last week, the Sydney Swans Academy tall booted seven in a clear best-on-ground performance in a remarkably low-scoring game. Blakey could end up at North Melbourne or Brisbane as a father-son prospect thanks to father John, or at Sydney under the Academy system. Either way, if Blakey keeps up this form, there will be no shortage of AFL clubs filing for his services.

‘Mozzie’ steals two points

It was heartbreaking in many ways for Northern Knights when Irving Mosquito snapped through a goal with 10 seconds remaining to draw the match. But it was arguably fitting for the match in which provided so many highlights throughout at Morwell Recreation Reserve. The TAC Cup game saw Northern lead for all but the dying moments, when ‘Mozzie’ instinctively played on – much to the horror of some fans realising the time remaining, but he reassured them with a fantastic goal to collect two points for the Power – something which could become crucial later in the season. While it was not a win for the Knights, two points is still better than nothing and they deserved to collect points from their efforts away from home.