BAY’S RAY OF HOPE
NEW ERA FOR CORIO BAY STINGRAYS
AN injection of youthful enthusiasm is set to multiply the bounce-back factor for Corio Bay Stingrays this weekend although a Big V call-up is a double-edged sword for Aaron Ruiz.
The 20-year-old power forward is likely to play against Eltham and Werribee this weekend, although it means he misses the chance to help his regular Youth League teammates in their cross-town derby with the Supercats.
The opportunity alongside former junior teammate Cohen Blythe comes on the back of a mere four minutes in the top grade back in April, but it was enough to spark architecture student Ruiz to push for another shot.
“We played Waverley Falcons, who are a pretty top team and I played a few minutes down the stretch to help the defence and the game is obviously faster and it was good to see how guys, especially the older guys on other teams play and work together and get through their stuff more consistently than the youth level,” he said.
Ruiz first trained with the squad on Monday night and hoped the experience of his peers would guide his energy in the right direction for the step up and potentially become a mainstay in the Stingrays line-up.
“At the moment, hopefully State Champs men is on the cards more next year more consistently … and I can stay there for the next four or five years,” he said.
Stingrays coach Paul Hutchison is eyeing Werribee on Sunday as the ideal shot at breaking a shocking run of outs, but has also urged his side to find the motivation to compete with third-placed Eltham after last weekend’s shellacking at Hawthorn.
“No disrespect to my boys or to Eltham … but I’ll be spreading the minutes around to make sure we’re cherry-ripe for Sunday,” Hutchison said.
Jordan O’Leary, who recently returned to Geelong after a stint with NCAA Division 2 college South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, could soon follow him as the Stingrays hunt for a wingman for point guard Blythe.
The load should be eased somewhat with the return of Michael Rebula and potentially Phil Renteria from injury, but Hutchison is still eager to push on with a future focus while also avoiding the dreaded wooden spoon.
“Sometimes you do need to throw caution to the wind and give these young kids an opportunity and you never what you’re going to get with these young guys,” he said.