By ADEM SARICAOGLU
THE Western Jets came into the final game of their home-and-away campaign as one of the hottest teams in the TAC Cup, but on Sunday looked far from that against Sandringham.
Needing a win to secure a place in the top four, the Jets produced their poorest performance of the year at Highgate Recreation Reserve, kicking only three goals for the day to go down by 61 points and slip down to fifth place on the ladder.
At half-time the margin was only five points in a low-scoring affair but from there the game belonged to the Dragons, who kicked all of the eight goals scored in the second half.
Jets coach Torin Baker admitted after the game his side was outclassed by a more talented outfit.
“We certainly came up against a team that’s, when they’re at full strength, of a real high quality and we thought we were well in the game for the first half but in the third quarter they really showed their class and ran all over us,” Baker said.
“We really didn’t have answers in that third quarter to what they were able to do.”
Baker also noted the disparity between each team’s use of the Sherrin throughout the day.
“I was disappointed with our ball-use, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.
“I thought we weren’t as brave as what we normally were with our ball-use and then as a result of that we made some really bad turnovers, but I think in the end Sandringham’s ball-use was very good and we just didn’t have the answers to it.”
While the result may have robbed the Jets of a double chance in the upcoming finals series, a number of their young stars continued to show plenty of promise.
Corey Ellis was the standout across half-back and through the midfield and was named the Jets’ best on the day, while Liam Duggan again proved handy as well.
“I thought Corey Ellis was exceptional in the first half,” Baker said.
“Just his composure and his decision-making down back and his ability to impact, and then even when he went on the ball he was quite good as well, so he was probably our best today.”
This week the Jets will play the Murray Bushrangers in an elimination final.
