Stuck in last place on the ladder after three games, it was looking like a tough season for TAC Cup side the Western Jets.
But it was in the club’s round-three loss to Oakleigh that head coach Torin Baker saw the turning point.
His players led for most of the day before being overtaken by a side that is, seven weeks later, on top of the ladder.
“Since the Oakleigh game we’ve been able to play some good footy,” Baker said.
“We have found a level of competitiveness that has been good enough to win us more games than we’ve lost.
“We have had players come into form and the group has a really good understanding of where we need to get to.”
The Jets have since jumped up the ladder, winning six of their past seven games to sit in third spot. The club’s only loss since round three came against the Geelong Falcons three weeks ago.
As well as aiming for a spot in the finals, Baker highlighted the impact playing in a winning side can have on a player’s chances of being drafted.
“There might be some players who are always going to get drafted because of their performances,” he said.
“There are others who really produce when it matters in finals … all of a sudden you can really rocket up the draft order and go from not being in contention to getting drafted. There has been a whole history of that happening in the TAC Cup.
“We just want to have that opportunity for our players to potentially play well and maybe get drafted at the end of the year.”
Three Jets who will no doubt be under draft consideration later in the year are Connor Menadue, Brayden Monk and Corey Ellis. They have been excellent in the first 10 weeks of the season, winning praise from their coach.
“Connor has had an outstanding season for us,” Baker said. “When we weren’t going so well in the first few games, he was our best player.
“Another who came in at round three and has really exceeded expectations is Brayden Monk. He has an enormous work ethic and is a guy who competes really hard.
“Then there’s Corey Ellis. I don’t think I’ve seen him play a bad game.”
Following a bye last week, the Jets will take on the seventh-placed North Ballarat Rebels at Eureka Stadium on Sunday.
