WESTERN Jets have been a rough diamond in the TAC Cup this season.
The highly fancied Jets are searching for answers following consecutive losses to last year’s grand finalists in the opening two rounds.
The hardest part for coach Steven Kretiuk is that his side has been willing to throw their bodies in the line of fire to win the hard ball but have lacked the necessary get-up-and-go on the spread and the skills required to hurt their opponents going forward.
“Our pressure around the footy and in the contest has been as good as anyone in the competition,” Kretiuk said. “It’s just been a couple of structure things, decision-making and execution that’s really let us down.
“We’re not working out of those contested possessions hard enough. We’re doing the hard work inside to get the contested possessions, but we’re not spreading and working into the places as well as we should. They showed over preseason they can execute. Maybe it’s a bit of laziness.”
The Jets have been more than competitive in both games. Defending champions Sandringham Dragons had to wait until the dying stages to upend the Jets in round one, while statistics against runners-up Oakleigh Chargers didn’t point to a 51-point loss for the Jets at Visy Park on Sunday.
The Jets lowered their colours in a hellish second term where they conceded six goals to one and effectively the game.
“When you put the two games into perspective, we’ve played last year’s two grand finalists and had one bad quarter in eight quarters,” Kretiuk said, “so I certainly think there’s a lot of positives to be taken out.”
Sam Critchley was the Jets’ best for the second week running.
The 18-year-old from Williamstown Juniors showed his versatility to stick to his task in the backline before pinch-hitting with success as a forward.
“He was outstanding both as a defender and when we had to chuck him forward to create something for us later,” Kretiuk said.
Jake McKenzie was able to buck the trend of poor kicking. The Altona Juniors recruit was exquisite with his use of the ball off the half-back line.
Josh Bench, from Albion, played with a “fair bit of guts” on the ball coming back from a limited preseason due to injury, while captain Ashlin Brown, from Hoppers Crossing, was everywhere.
Kretiuk says the Jets are not in “panic stations” mode just yet – but that could happen if they can’t beat an equally desperate Eastern Ranges at
Highgate Reserve on Saturday morning.
TAC CUP
Western Jets 6.9 (45) lt Oakleigh Chargers 14.8 (96). Western Jets – Goals: D. Castellano 2, T. Jehle 2, A. Piva , M. Orr. Best: S. Critchley, J. McKenzie, D. Iaccarino, A. Brown, C. Nastasi, H. Walshe
