By LIAM TWOMEY
HARD work is what it’s been about all summer for the Western Jets.
Coming off one of their best TAC Cup years ever in 2011 with a finals appearance and three AFL draftees, the club is drilling in the right messages to its new crop of impressive youngsters from the word go.
“All these boys are very talented but only hard work is going to increase and improve on that talent,” region manager Shane Sexton said.
“The guys are all working on their fitness, physical development, strength and game sense but one of the huge contributing factors to success is going to be work ethic and attitude and how they go about it.
“There will be kids that will be sitting back and thinking I’m half a chance to get drafted but if they don’t go about it the right way they will miss out.”
The Jets have already had two intra-club practice matches and are now preparing for inter-regional practice matches against the Northern Knights and the Oakleigh Chargers.
From those hit outs the 2012 squad will be finalised leading into the Labour Day long weekend of fitness testing for all TAC Cup players at Maribyrnong College.
Although the practice matches are important, Sexton said the fact the Jets have been tracking this group of juniors for a number of years meant they had a fair idea of the talent pool.
“The practice games are certainly important but they aren’t the be all and end all for these boys either,” Sexton said.
“This group of kids has been coming through since they were 15 or 16 so we have a pretty good understanding of how they are going,” he said.
“Some kids will improve and others won’t while some kids work hard while others haven’t. It’s just a matter of sorting through all that.”
The season will officially get underway for the Jets in just under a month with a round one clash against last year’s premiers the Sandringham Dragons at Visy Park.
Steve Kretiuk will return as senior coach and Matthew Piece has signed on as an assistant, replacing Troy West.
The Jets have also increased their fitness staff as they try to give their players a leg up on the competition.
