The L-plates were on for the Western Jets in the TAC Cup season opener.
The new-look Jets are unlikely to face a much steeper learning curve than what they were dealt in Saturday’s 122-point loss to the Eastern Ranges at Ikon Park.
Picture gallery: Western Jets v Eastern Ranges
The levels of experience on both sides were poles apart and it showed on the scoreboard when the Ranges turned a once competitive game into a whitewash with a breathtaking 16 goals-to-four second half.
While not shying away from his disappointment at a breaking down of team structures and waning concentration levels of his players after half-time, Jets coach Torin Baker put the defeat into perspective to show what his raw and undermanned side came up against in their first test.
“Most experts in the comp would say Eastern are going to be a strong group this year,” he told Star Weekly.
“They’ve got some really good top-end talent, they played a lot of their players as bottom-agers last year and now they have a fair bit of experience.
“For us, we only had four players that represented us in the elimination final, so it was a really new group from last year that played on the weekend.
“We took in eight first-gamers, 14 of the players had played under five games, and we’re missing some real experience at the moment to be able to help those boys.
“Put all that together, the good talent we were playing against and a pretty new group, our boys were just outclassed.”
This competition is all about opportunities and there are going to be plenty of chances for Jets to stake their claim for starting positions this season.
The chance to play against the best players in their age group and even future AFL players is what attracts the youngsters.
Jets defender Liam Carter got his chance to play on premium forward Sam Weideman, a grandson of two-time Collingwood premiership star Murray, son of former Collingwood player Mark and early tip to be a high draft pick later this year.
Carter turned an unfavourable situation – the ball was constantly being pumped into his defensive zone by a rampant Ranges midfield – into a performance that would have people in high places taking note.
Carter, who is back with the Jets under the 19-year-old rule, kept Weideman to two goals, no mean feat considering the amount of ball that was being pumped in their direction.
“Eastern had an enormous amount of forward entries and for Liam to play down back on a player we rate as one of the premier forwards in the competition and to keep him to two goals was a great effort,” Baker said.
“They had a number of one-on-one contests and Liam was able to always bring the ball to ground.”
The other Ranges forward on the recruiters radar is Blake Hardwick, who finished with eight goals to be the best player on the ground.
Hardwick led Jets first-game players Brodie Romensky and Judah Dundon a merry dance, but Baker sees the education out of playing on such a highly rated youngster as priceless for the pair.
“For them to be able to get that sort of experience will be good for their development,” Baker said.
Jets forwards Brandon Lester (three goals) and Daniel Venables (two) made the most of limited opportunities.
Jackson Volpato fought hard in the midfield, but his side was soundly beaten at the stoppages.
The Jets will head to RAMS Arena in Craigieburn for their second round clash against Sandringham Dragons on Sunday.
