WESTERN Jets are struggling to cope with the physicality served up by bulkier title-contending teams in the TAC Cup.
The Jets have been made to look like lightweights during the past three weeks in losses to Calder Cannons, Dandenong Stingrays and Gippsland Power.
It’s a concern for the Jets, as the further it gets into winter the heavier the grounds will get and a premium will be placed on winning the contested ball.
“We’ve got a lot of players who are small in stature,” Jets coach Steven Kretiuk said.
“Especially against Dandenong and Calder, they got monstered a bit around the stoppages.”
The Jets were again visibly outweighed across the board in a 24-point loss to Gippsland Power at Warrawee Park on Saturday. This time, the Jets put up an almighty fight before going down.
They worked so hard over the course of the first three quarters to be within touching distance at the last change that they simply ran out of puff at the final hurdle.
“We got in lower and harder,” Kretiuk said.
“We were out on our legs a bit and they ran over the top of us in the last 15 minutes. It was a great effort and we’ll take a fair bit out of the game.”
The Jets were cruelled when Sam Critchley was injured in the warm-up. The defender suffered a bruised foot and could play no significant part.
Critchley had been the Jets’ top backman this season and was earmarked for the role on Power captain and commanding forward Tim Membrey. He never got to him and Membrey proved the difference between the sides with six goals.
“We had to restructure our side even before the first siren,” Kretiuk said. “That threw things around a bit.”
One of the Jets’ best on the day, Mitch Bongiovanni also succumbed to injury. The hard-at-it onballer could miss a large chunk of the season after straining a medial ligament.
“He was fantastic across the half back flank,” Kretiuk said. “He’s going to be out for a good month. It’s a pretty bad one.”
Despite the result, the Jets could take some positives out of the performance.
Charlie Nastasi didn’t shirk a contest in the middle, Matthew Sutherland offered plenty of run and carry off the half-back line, Harrison King was a constant threat inside forward 50, and Josh Bench returned to form with three goals.
Daniel Burton, a first-gamer out of the Point Cook juniors, showed plenty of promise in the ruck and aerially around the ground.
The Jets will cross Bass Strait for a battle with Tasmania at Aurora Stadium on Saturday.
– Lance Jenkinson
Western Jets 8.3 (51) lt Gippsland Power 9.21 (75). Western Jets: Goals: J. Bench 3, D. Burton, S. Blake, H. King, B. Said, S. White. Best:
C. Nastasi, D. Burton, M. Bongiovanni, J. Bench, H. King, M. Sutherland
