By Lance Jenkinson
The Western Jets had the L-plates on in their TAC Cup season opener.
The new-look Jets are unlikely to face a much steeper learning curve than the one they confronted in Saturday’s 122-point loss to Eastern Ranges at Ikon Park.
The contrast in experience between the sides showed on the scoreboard, with the Ranges turning the 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 after half-time, Jets coach Torin Baker put the defeat into perspective.
“Most experts in the comp would say Eastern are going to be a strong group this year,” he said.
“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 had only four players who represented us in the elimination final, so it was a really new group from last year.
“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’ players to stake their claim for starting positions this season.
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 an 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 an incessant 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.
The other Ranges forward on the recruiters’ radar is Blake Hardwick, who finished with eight goals to be best player on the ground.
Hardwick led Jets first-game players Brodie Romensky and Judah Dundon a merry dance, but Baker sees the education of playing on such a highly rated player as priceless for the pair.
“For them to be able to get that sort of experience will be good for their development,” Baker said.
The Jets will head to RAMS Arena in Craigieburn for their second-round clash against Sandringham Dragons on Sunday.
