ANOTHER third quarter fade out has cost the Western Jets their fifth successive defeat, going down to the Gippsland Power by 54 points.
The Jets controlled the contest in the first half with Will Sullivan’s ruck dominance giving the midfield first use.
The Jets’ pressure on the opposition and fast delivery in to the forward line were a feature. Jake Graham kicked five goals in the first quarter and six for the half as Western took a 16-point lead into the long break.
Rhyce Prismall and Matthew Smith were shining lights for the Jets in the midfield and Tim Jenkins also enjoyed stepping up to an on-ball role.
As has been the case in recent weeks, the Jets let their guard down in the third term and were punished by a quality opponent.
Gippsland piled on 12.1 to Western’s 1.3 to change a worrying half time deficit into a commanding 48-point three-quarter time lead.
Despite this, Joe Hedditch did a great job on Gippsland’s key forward Lachlan Hansen.
To the Jets’ credit they fought the game out, getting as close as 28 points in the final quarter; however, the third quarter bleeding had killed any chance of victory,
Gippsland kicked away toward the end, bagging the last four goals of the match.
Graham finished with eight majors in a brilliant solo effort for the losing side.
