TO lay the blame at the feet of James Sicily for the Western Jets’ one-point loss to the Calder Cannons would be a harsh misrepresentation of his brilliant second-half showing in the TAC Cup match at Highgate Recreation Reserve on Saturday.
Sicily had the dream scenario before him: an after-the-siren chance with his side two points down, standing about 45 metres out to win the game. But it was no gimme, kicking into a stiff breeze and with the pressure of the moment on his young shoulders.
PICTURE GALLERY: Western Jets v Calder Cannons
The 18-year-old’s kick was sweetly struck. It rotated nicely through the air but slammed into the woodwork.
But for Sicily, the Jets would have been out of the reckoning long before his final-siren effort.
He booted four goals in a scintillating display and was heavily involved in most passages forward of centre. Even before that last Jets play, Sicily was the key, moving the ball inside 50 and then running on to draw a free kick.
Sicily produced the kind of performance you’d expect from a star player coming off a Vic Metro stint and one who could be in the AFL recruiters’ sights.
If anyone deserved a match-winning goal, it was Sicily.
“James Sicily’s last half was outstanding,” Jets coach Torin Baker told the Weekly. “He was willing the team over the line off his own back and very nearly did that.
“Many a player wouldn’t have even made the distance into the wind from where he kicked it from and he’s kicked it almost post high.”
The loss was costly in the Jets’ quest for a top-four finish and a double chance.
They slipped six premiership points adrift of fourth and cannot afford to put a foot wrong in the last four games .
The Jets didn’t deserve the four points; they were somewhat lucky to get to within a point of the Cannons at full time.
Two-goal Jake McKenzie, playing across half forward and through the midfield, was one of the few consistent four-quarter performers.
Mitch Norton, also with two majors, and Lachlan Hickey on a wing, had some good moments.
Baker was disappointed with his side’s inability to reach the defensive standards it has managed across the season.
“We didn’t put enough pressure on the ball carrier, nor were we good in covering players around the contest,” he said.
“I said to the boys, we probably didn’t deserve to win it. If you don’t bring the level of intensity and put the work into your defensive game as we have shown in the past, that’s the result that happens, the opposition get plenty of inside 50s and scoring shots.”
The Jets have two weeks to stew over the result.
Their next test comes on July 28 when they face the North Ballarat Rebels at Eureka Stadium.
TAC CUP – Round 13
CALDER 1.4 5.11 8.16 12.20 (92)
WESTERN 5.2 7.4 11.9 13.13 (91)
Goals: Calder: Wright 3 Ahern 2 Owen 2 Christensen Carboni Cooke Cavanagh Schraven. Western: Sicily 4 Norton 2 McKenzie 2 Orr Sullivan Myers Hickey Bewley.
Best: Calder: Christensen Owen Miller Ahern Wright Carboni. Western: McKenzie Sicily Norton Hickey Greiser Myers.
