Dingo deadly in milestone Crocs smash Buffaloes as star hits 200th
THE victory beers would have tasted sweeter than ever for Keegan Dingo last night.
The star Southern Districts defender was best on ground on his team’s 17.12 (114) to 5.2 (32) thrashing over Darwin Buffaloes at TIO Stadium.
It was the 30-year-old’s 200th NTFL Premier League game and he was full of class in his milestone match.
Dingo – who said during the week he was looking forward to a few beers after the game – came up with plenty of crucial intercept marks on the Crocodiles’ halfback line. His physicality and eagerness at the contests was once again first class, before he was sent forward in the final quarter, kicking a goal he will never forget.
“His spoiling was phenomenal, and when we sent him forward and he kicked a goal we were all happy,” Crocodiles coach Shannon Rusca said.
After a slow start to the match, Leroy Jetta (three goals) opened the floodgates with a brilliant wheeling run and snapped major, after an excellent kick into the forward 50 by youngster Beau Schwarze, late in the first term.
The Crocs then piled on the goals in a physical second quarter, out-bodying the Buffs and booting nine goals to one, while Lionel Ogden also stood out alongside Dingo on the halfback line.
“Eventually the floodgates opened with the sheer ball we were winning through the middle and across halfback. They (Districts) were ruthless,” Rusca said.
“Even to the 24th-minute mark of the last quarter, our players were approaching the stoppages with intent and leg speed. It was phenomenal.”
Dylan Barry’s (three goals for the game) major in the second term, after a brilliant long Sam Smith kick to Ogden, who exhibited great hands with the ball on the ground before find- ing Barry, was a highlight of the afternoon.
It was Schwarze who then produced a lovely snapped kick which led to a Rory O’Brien (two goals for the match) major, opening up a 34point lead to the Crocs.
Schwarze (clever work with the ball on the ground) and Smith (short pass to Ogden) also played crucial lead-up roles for Ogden’s goal, which opened up an enormous 58point lead to the visitors just before halftime.
Districts’ dominance then continued in the third term, booting five goals to two.
“Our mindset probably wasn’t there, but I can’t blame them for that (after Tai Martin-Page’s awful spinal injury last round),” injured Buffaloes defender and acting assistant coach Cam Stokes said.
“They were really good around the contests with their bigger bodies. Our run and carry didn’t quite work and they shut us down.” GOALS BEST 0.0 1.1 3.2 5.2 1.1 10.5 15.10 17.12 UMPIRES