By ADEM SARICAOGLU
THE Western Jets produced their best four quarters of TAC Cup football for the year against the Eastern Ranges on Saturday.
The Jets are now fifth on table after destroying the Ranges at Box Hill City Oval to the tune of 105 points, kicking a whopping 25 goals for the day.
Though both clubs were missing some of their Vic Metro stars, Jets coach Torin Baker said it was “our best performance of the year”.
“I know Eastern had four out with Vic Metro and we had our two (James Sicily and Jake Grieser) out, but I think one of the major differences was just the way we maximised our opportunities going forward,” Baker said.
“That was the major difference from the week before (a three-point loss to the Geelong Falcons), and we definitely had a change of personnel in our forward structure.
“But it was also to do with the way the guys executed the planning, and that was probably the most pleasing aspect of the day.”
The Jets led at every change, but saved their best for the final stanza, kicking nine last-quarter goals to Eastern’s three to stretch the final margin out to three figures.
While usual suspects Jake McKenzie (four goals), Liam Duggan (three) and David Iaccarino (two) all enjoyed good days at the office, it was some of the Jets’ lesser known prospects that caught Baker’s eye on Saturday.
“Corey Ellis was sensational,” Baker said.
“He’s been playing school football with Essendon Grammar, had over 30 possessions and played in the midfield as a bottom-aged player, so he’s really progressing well.
“Matt Singleton played his first game and was able to come in and kick three goals and really provided us with a good leading option going forward.
“And we had our captain Harry King, who quelled one of their better players in Christian Petracca.
“He did a superb job on him.”
The blowout also gave Baker the rare opportunity to experiment with some of his charges, but also enhanced the Jets’ final chances.
“To have a really good win like that is confidence-boosting but it also, when it comes down to it, might be the difference between positions on the ladder,” Baker said.
The Jets will now face the Gippsland Power at Preston City Oval on Sunday.
