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TAC CUP PRELIMINARY FINAL DAY: BACK TO THE FUTURE

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TAC CUP PRELIMINARY FINAL DAY: BACK TO THE FUTURE by Stevo

On Saturday night, former Dandenong Stingray star Luke Parker was one of the prime movers in Sydney's great win over Carlton. Parker brought back memories of the time when an 18 year old Tom Scully was starring for Graeme Yeats' Dandenong team of 2009 and when Parker himself was a promising bottom age player. A classy midfielder, Parker matured the following year and did well in the middle and off half back for the Stingrays but, unlike Scully, had to wait until pick 40 in the national draft before officially becoming an AFL player. Melbourne recruiter Barry Prendergast picked key forward Lucas Cook at 12 that year.

Yeats is still the Stingrays coach and next Sunday, he will have another opportunity to win a flag at this level against Eastern Ranges thanks to his team's victory at Visy Park after coming from 15 points down at the final break to beat the Calder Cannons by two goals in Saturday’s TAC Cup preliminary final.

The connection with Melbourne doesn't stop at the coach or former players Nathan Jones and Tom Scully. Jones' younger brother Zak was the star of the show with his aggression at the football and in the tight contests. A good user of the football, he is certain to figure prominently in draft calculations later in the year.

Billy Hartung is an excitement machine for the Stingrays who will provide moments of brilliance for many years to come. He's small at 177cm and is slightly built but is fast, runs all day and has great foot skills.

The Cannons have been a perennial powerhouse at this level but, after leading at half time, disappointed.

Dandenong Stingrays 4.3.27 5.5.35 9.6.60 16.12.108

Calder Cannons 4.3.27 7.6.48 11.9.75 14.12.96

Goals

Dandenong Stingrays Egan Lonie Mullane 3 Rennie 2 Gawley Lamb McCartney Pickess Scott

Calder Cannons Cauchi Cooke 3 O'Brien 2 Ahern Christensen Clothier Davies Foster Prestia

Best

Dandenong Stingrays Jones Lonie Hartung Bastinac Capiron Foote

Calder Cannons Owen Carboni Clothier Kovacevic Ahern Merlo

The second game of TAC Cup Preliminary Final day brought up a bit of a boil over when the Eastern Ranges overran premiership favourites the Geelong Falcons by 37 points after an even first half.

Spectators were disappointed to discover that injured Ranges duo Tom Boyd and Mitch Honeychurch failed to come up for final selection. The highly regarded Vic Metro representatives are expected to line up for their team in next week's grand final against the Dandenong Stingrays.

Strongly built bottom aged player Christian Petracca booted five goals, took nine contested marks and beat off some handy opponents including top draft prospect Darcy Gardiner to underline his promise for next year's draft. Morrish Medallist Ben Cavarra capped off a great week for himself with a top effort in the midfield. A player with plenty of pace who runs hard, he did his prospects of selection in the drafts later this year no harm. Matthew Traylor kicked four goals. Strong ruckman Michael Apeness dominated the big man duels.

Geelong's Hugh Goddard and Patrick McCartin kicked three goals each while Jimmy Tsitas showed class early in the middle. The Falcons were missing their star on baller Lewis Taylor.

Geelong Falcons 3.3.21 5.9.39 9.13.67 11.14.80

Eastern Ranges 3.5.23 7.10.52 11.12.78 17.15.117

Goals

Geelong Falcons Goddard McCartin 3 Beardsell Cameron Christensen Dixon Maishman

Eastern Ranges Petracca 5 Traynor 4 Apeness Crowe 2 Cody Evans McInerney Welsh

Best

Geelong Falcons Hickey McCartin Miles Russell Beardsell Davis

Eastern Ranges Petracca O'Sullivan Belo Cavarra Keedle Fisher

With Boyd and Honeychurch considered good things to come back for the grand final at Etihad Stadium on Sunday morning, the Ranges will start favourites to once again dash Yeats’ hopes of a premiership.

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