By ADEM SARICAOGLU
THE Western Jets will be the least-represented TAC Cup club at the AFL Under-18 Championships, which begin this weekend.
Only two Jets, key utility James Sicily and ball magnet Jake Greiser, both from EDFL club, Keilor, made the final cut in this year’s 40-man Vic Metro squad, ahead of their first game against Queensland at Yeronga this Sunday.
Trials were held over the past fortnight, but Vic Metro selectors couldn’t find room to squeeze in Jets hopefuls Mark Orr, Harrison King, Harley Armstrong-Weston or Brett Bewley.
While rapt for both Sicily and Greiser, Jets coach Torin Baker said there are numerous reasons why so many Jets were overlooked.
“It is what it is,” Baker said.“We’ve certainly got reasons why we’ve had an ultra-competitive start to the year, and it’s been through an even contribution from players rather than any major players standing out week in week out.”
But Baker was also keen to point out the first Jet picked in last year’s national draft, Spencer White at 25 to St Kilda, had also missed out on a Vic Metro berth in 2012 after a poor trial game.
“With Spencer – he just had a fantastic second half of the season and was able to get drafted,” Baker said.“He showed what a really big second half of the year can do for a player’s chances.”
For Sicily, his selection marks the first time he’s ever taken part in state football.
“It was a real nervous time just waiting for the phone call to see if you were in or not,” Sicily told Star. “After I received the text – I was obviously relieved and excited for what’s to come.”
Despite 12 goals and seven fairly consistent games of footy for the Jets to date, Sicily insists he’s still a fair way off his best footy, rating his TAC Cup form as “pretty average”.
“I think I was playing at about 70, 75 per cent, and I reckon there’s still a lot of improvement to come,” Sicily admitted.
“With the Metro carnival and obviously all the other things to come with the draft, I seem to be over-thinking things instead of just enjoying playing football.”
While Sicily has had to adapt to a new on-field role with the Jets, Greiser, who gathered more than 20 disposals in his first six TAC Cup appearances this year, has only just overcome a grade one hamstring tear that prevented him from trialling for Vic Metro.
“I was over the moon and pretty stoked that I got picked in the final squad,” Greiser said.
“Hopefully I can play to my strengths and show the recruiters and everyone what I’m capable of and just improve my footy.”
Werribee Tiger and former Oakleigh Charger Luke McDonald also made the final cut.
