Western Jets’ coach Torin Baker was encouraged by his team’s first-up performance in the TAC Cup, even if it was beaten by Northern Knights in a roller-coaster season opener at Ikon Park on Sunday.
The Jets fought back from a 25-point quarter-time deficit with dominant second and third periods, which saw them hold a two-goal lead late in the third.
But the Knights had restored parity by three-quarter time, skipping clear in the fourth quarter to record a 16-point win.
“The boys cracked in and were able to turn around the match when things didn’t go well early,” Baker said.
“We’ve got the effort where we want it to be; we’ve got the pressure in our game, and, had we executed a little better, we might’ve been sitting on the other side of the result.”
The Jets used the ball to a high level when mounting their comeback.
Unfortunately, it all came undone when the Knights got on top in the game.
“It was a fairly even contest from the point of inside 50 entries for most of the day,” Baker said. “They really made the most of their opportunities and when we went forward, we just didn’t use the footy like we wanted.”
Turnovers in TAC Cup football often get punished. When the Jets missed their forward targets, the Knights were red-hot in turning them into attacking moves.
“They’d rebound out of our 50 and score,” Baker said. “That was a pattern for a few of their goals.
“It’s difficult to lock the ball in [on a turnover] because of the TAC Cup’s anti-density rule.
“You can’t press up like in the AFL, and you’ve got to have five forwards over halfway, so it gives a lot of space to teams rebounding out of 50 to spot up targets and work their way down the other end.”
Lachlan Fogarty, Cam Rayner and Judah Dundon had blistering starts to the season for the Jets. All three midfielders were dangerous inside 50 with two goals apiece. Fogarty was the clear standout, though, and looks prime for a huge top-age under-18 season.
“He was outstanding all day, defensively and offensively,” Baker said.
“His work rate is quite outstanding.”
The Jets face local rivals Calder Cannons at Rams Arena on Saturday at 10am.
Lance Jenkinson
