Western Jets have broken into the TAC Cup girls winners’ circle for the first time.
The Jets, featuring in their second season in the competition, broke a streak of nine consecutive losses with a thrilling five-point win over Eastern Ranges at the Williamstown Cricket Ground on Saturday.
“They’ve been working really hard towards that first win,” Jets female talent co-ordinator Claudia Davey said of the team.
“Each week, they’ve been improving little bit by little bit and finally it paid off today getting the win.
“They were all very excited and deserved the reward for all their hard work and all the coaches who have been working very hard as well.”
There was nothing to separate the two sides nearly the whole game.
Scores were level at quarter-time, half-time and three-quarter time before the Jets claimed the points with a two-goal-to-one final term.
“It was pretty much goal for goal for most of the game,” Davey said.
“It turned into a very exciting last quarter.”
The difference in the game was Western Jets sharpshooter Caitlin Greiser.
Greiser kicked four goals straight to give the Jets the potency they needed in attack.
The Australian Rules convert is one of the form forwards in the competition with seven goals in her past two matches.
Last year, Greiser was also scoring plenty of goals, but more so on a soccer field.
“This is her first season of football, but she has that background in elite sport, so she’s a great influence on the other girls as well with her bit of extra maturity,” Davey said.
“She works very hard and is really passionate about her football and wants to do well.
“She’s played a bit of everything this season – ruck, back line and forward line – she’s quite tall and can read the game really well.
“With her goalkicking the past couple of the weeks, the forward line looks to be a good place for her.”
Elisabeth Georgostathis was hugely influential for the Western Jets. Georgostathis is constantly in the frame and uses her quickness to bound away from the packs.
“She’s been playing very well,” Davey said. “Her work rate is incredible every game.
“She stands out as an exceptional runner on our team. Her run and carry is important.”
Isabelle Pritchard is one of the youngest members of the Western Jets at just 16, but has been super impressive. Pritchard’s calmness and composure are a feature for the bottom-age player.
“I was saying to the coaches today, I don’t think she makes a mistake when she gets the ball,” Davey said. “She’s very clean and reads the game very well for a young player.
“She has a lot of potential and I think she’ll go very far with her football.”
With the monkey off the back and a win under the belt, Western Jets can go into the last four rounds with a bit of confidence.
The Jets players will return to club football this weekend before returning to action against the winless Dandenong Stingrays at Shepley Oval on April 22.
