By Tara Murray
The Calder Cannons responded after a slow start to claim a strong win against the Dandenong Stingrays in a NAB League elimination final on Sunday.
The Cannons trailed by 21 points midway through the second quarter at Ikon Park in Carlton and looked in for a tough day.
A couple of goals before half-time turned the momentum the Canons’ way.
They kick eight goals to one in the second half, running away with 11.9 (75)-5.9 (39) win.
Cannons coach Ross Smith said they were very satisfied with how they had responded after being slow out of the blocks.
“I was happy to get the win and we played some really good football,” he said.
“From midway through the third quarter, we go on top.
“We tackled really well and had 18 tackles in the third quarter. It was 65-42 tackles at the end of the game, after being pretty even at half-time.”
Smith said the Stingrays attacked hard in the second half, but the Cannons’ defence was able to hold strong.
He said Stingrays had a number of inside 50s but couldn’t score.
“They attacked through the corridor,” he said. “We placed our ruckman in the middle of the ground later in the piece, as we saw that’s where they were going forward.
“We managed to contain them, which was pleasing.”
The Cannons’ dangerous forward line got going in the second half, with four players kicking two goals each.
Smith said they had a hard challenge picking their best players – a good sign it had been a strong all-round performance.
“Daniel Mott and Sam Ramsay in the middle were really good,” he said. “Mott hit the scoreboard three times and both had 30-plus possessions.
“Jeremy O’Sullivan was good all game and we threw him in the ruck late in the piece.
“Harrison Minton-Connell was really damaging when he had the ball. Jake Sutton was doing some good work on the way up and back and kicked a couple of goals.”
Brodie Newman, Harrison Jones, Max Simpson, Jack Keeping, Benjamin Overman and Cody Brand were others highlighted by Smith.
The Calder Cannons will face Sandringham Dragons in a semi-final this weekend.
The two teams have faced each other only once this season.
“They towelled us up by 22 goals in round one,” Smith said.
“We’ve improved throughout the year and [are] a very different side.
“We’re very tall, so if we could get a nice day we can challenge them in the air.”
