Tara Murray
Western Jets’ ruck Krystal Russell wasn’t meant to be on the goal line in the last minute of the NAB League Girls grand final.
While Jet coach Robbie Chancellor is still unsure what she was doing there, he and the rest of the Jets team will be forever grateful.
Russell emerged from the pack and kicked a goal to put the Jets in front with what would turn out to be the final kick of the game.
The Jets beat the previously undefeated Dandenong Stingrays, 7.5 (47)-5.11 (41)
Chancellor said the final moments of the game and the moments afterwards were still a blur.
“It’s my best coaching experience,” he said.
“With the crowd behind us it was pretty special for the girls to turn that margin around and basically win with the last kick of the game.
“There’s not much you can do in those situations. You hope the work you’ve done with the girls throughout the year is enough to stand up and they certainly did, an incredible night.”
“I don’t know what I was thinking. I don’t even know what I said in my speech afterwards with the adrenaline and emotions and the noise of the crowd.
The Jets found themselves down by 22 points at half time, with the Stingrays on track to complete the perfect season.
Chancellor came out with what will now be a famous half time speech.
“I told them a story,” he said. “I often ask the girls a loaded question which I know they will say yes to.
“They all feel like they are a part of what I’m about to say. I asked them if they had ever been to the movies, which they have all been to.
“I said what normally happens in movies is that you get to know the characters and then usually something bad happens and the second quarter was our bad. Usually in movies there is generally a happy ending, and this is how we get a happy ending if we get these things right.”
With an upped effort at the contest and the belief to hang in there, the Jets continued to fight and fight and got the end result.
The winning goal by Russell was the first in Jets colours. Chancellor said the rumour is was her first ever goal.
Skipper Charlotte Baskaran led the way with 26 possessions despite battling a shoulder injury.
Montana Ham, Stephanie Asciak, Trinity Skenderis and Kate Maxwell all showed their leadership and brought the others along with them.
The premiership is the club’s first, with the boys side having never won one.
“I didn’t pay for many beers at the after party,” Chancellor laughed. “There were plenty of excited Jets people.
“I’m obviously proud to be part of history. I’m so proud of the girls and they’ve paved the way for the next group of Jets girls to come through.
“Our region might not be the biggest football region in the state but we can compete with the big ones if we get some things right.”
The success is a long way from the past few seasons. The Jets won more games this season, then the rest of the seasons combined.
Chancellor, who is in his second year in role, said a lot of people played big roles to get this far.
“It’s a credit to everyone in the program.
“It felt like the coming together of a number of different things and a bit of vindication of what has been put into the Jets program. I’m very proud of the region and that finally gets to experience the ultimate success.”
