By ADEM SARICAOGLU
FOR three quarters, the Western Jets were gallant in their TAC Cup season opener on Sunday.
But football is played over four quarters, and a second term in which they conceded five goals to one against the Sandringham Dragons proved costly.
In the end the Jets went down by 23 points.
New coach Torin Baker noted the large disparity in the second quarter clearance count as the biggest factor in the final result.
“Most of our key performance indicators were fairly even across the board but in that second quarter the clearances were 12 to three, and in a nutshell that was the game,” Baker explained.
“Look I thought the boys gave it a really solid crack (and) were certainly competitive but it was probably just that second quarter where they really let themselves down.
“We just got beaten really convincingly in the midfield and that was probably the difference in the game.”
The Jets had a good start with the first two goals of the game but Sandringham fought back to gain a seven-point lead at quarter time.
By half time it was 34, but the Jets responded well after the main break.
Two goals to Pele Manivong and one the key forward Mark Orr within the first seven minutes of the third quarter turned momentum the Jets way, but a bungled kick in at the other end two minutes later took the wind out of their sails.
The margin was cut down to 23 points by three-quarter time and the game had evened up in the midfield, but the potency of Sandringham’s forward line had a much better impact on the scoreboard in the final term as the margin floated back out to 34.
Two late goals to Jets Daniel Burton and Braden Ferrari restored some respect to the final score.
Despite the points going the other way there were plenty of good signs for the Jets.
The main one was Orr, whose physical presence at both ends of the ground and in the ruck was on display at Visy Park.
Harrison King was also impressive up forward kicking three majors, while James Sicily (19 disposals) and Daniel O’Leary were also impressive through the middle.
Baker noted the improvement his side delivered after half time.
“We threw some guys into the midfield that were able to win some clearances for us,” he said.
“I thought Lachie Knight and James Sicily had really good third quarters and helped get us back into the game, and I thought Mark Orr was able to really impact down back when he went into that ruck role.
“He was able to take some contested marks and stop that quick, flowing game that (Sandringham) had going in the first half.”
