DANDENONG stung Bendigo Pioneers in Friday's start to the final round of matches in the AFL Victoria under-16 country championships.
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Despite having home-ground advantage at Queen Elizabeth Oval, Bendigo was overrun as Dandenong won by 78 points.
Both clubs had been beaten in their previous two contests.
The Stingrays were first to goal when Matthew Cronjaegar did so on the run after just 13 seconds.
A couple of minutes later and Josh Battle won a marking contest, which he would do many times, to kick Dandenong's second.
The Stingrays led 19-1 after eight minutes when Damien Scully goaled on the run.
Dandenong's goalspree was broken when Tyntynder's Kayle Kirby marked and kicked the first of his three goals for Bendigo.
Another Battle goal made it 26-9 for the Stingrays at quarter-time.
The Pioneers were first to goal early in the second when Kyabram's Zane O'Donnell snapped truly from a contest.
Dandenong scored the next four goals to be well in control.
Kirby goaled on the run, but a soccered goal by Nathan Scagliarini put Dandy up by six goals at half-time.
The third quarter was the most evenly-fought.
Kirby was caught high and goaled.
Donald's Jordan Bath was on target just seconds before the siren sounded to end a term which Dandenong won 14-12.
The Stingrays dominance through midfield and attack overwhelmed Bendigo in the last quarter.
Dandenong peppered the Barnard Street end goal.
After a run of three behinds, Dandenong then scored five goals in eight minutes.
Bendigo's sole reply in the last quarter of the campaign was by Colbinabbin's Will Lowe.
The Bendigo Pioneers best were Bath at full-back, Eaglehawk's Matthew Higgs in midfield, captain Will Brohm from Sandhurst Marist across half-back, Echuca's Tyler Phillips, and Swan Hill's Max Scales at half-back and in midfield.
Coach of the Pioneers under-16 team, Dean Sheldrick said all three matches gave the players a gauge on the level they were at and to aspire to.
"The boys were up against quality players from right across Victoria in all three matches.
"In this match we were under pressure when Dandenong scored two goals in the first five minutes."
The Stingrays pressure often led to turnovers from which they scored.
A TAC Cup information sessions with Donald McDonald will be in the South Bendigo Football Netball Club's social rooms from noon on Saturday.
