The Western Jets could be doomed to a finish in the TAC Cup cellar after a heartbreaking five-point loss to Bendigo Pioneers in the clash of the bottom two at Epsom Huntly Reserve on Saturday.
The Jets got to within a kick of their second win of the campaign, only to fritter away their chances in a tight, low scoring tussle, leaving them rock bottom on the ladder with a game and percentage to make up on the sides above them over the last four rounds to avoid the wooden spoon.
Jets coach Torin Baker lamented a missed opportunity for his young team.
“It would’ve been nice, when you don’t have many wins for the year, to pinch one,” he told Star Weekly.
“It was just a few moments in the last quarter when we had a chance to capitalise and we just couldn’t.
“We had 48 inside 50s to score only 15 times.
“We just didn’t have forwards that were dangerous enough.”
The Jets produced an entertaining brand of football with crisp movement from defence to attack.
Lachlan Knight, firstly as a half back and then as a midfielder, and captain Jaycob Hickey, who played on the ball, were the two key drivers for the Jets.
They had to shoulder a lot of the responsibility after injuries to Jackson Volpato and Frank Campisi.
“We lost a bit of our onball group and were forced to make a few changes during the game,” Baker said.
“We sort of had to plug holes a bit.
“In the end, we probably did get beaten in terms of the contest, especially around the ball.”
While the Jets looked fine in transition, they broke down badly in attack.
The exception to that was Mitch Norton, who was not only an important link-up player forward of centre, but also dangerous in front of goal, jagging three of the Jets five goals for the game.
“He just worked really hard back towards goal and therefore he got really dangerous as a forward,” Baker said.
“There were five or six times where he’s ran through the middle of the ground and either converted or set up some opportunities for us.
“He kicked a brilliant goal out of a stoppage in the third quarter, where he won the footy off the boundary throw in, took on a guy and slotted one from the boundary, it was high class stuff.
“He’s a beauty, there’s no doubt about it.”
The Jets are likely destined for the wooden spoon, but it has to be put into perspective.
This is a side with one eye on next season with 12 bottom-age players turning out for the Pioneers clash, down from 14 the week before.
Baker will continue to put minutes into the younger players on the list.
“Our most experienced boys are playing some good footy, but they’ve got a hell of a lot of youth around them who are taking some time to adjust to the footy,” he said.
“It’s good learning for the guys who are going to be around next year,” he said.
The Jets will head to Shepparton to face premiership contenders Murray Bushrangers on Sunday.
TAC Cup: Bendigo Pioneers 6.9 (45) d Western Jets 5.10 (40)
