NOR-West Jets' younger brigade stepped up to the challenge and produced "the best performance in the club's history" against Wollongong last Saturday.
Although the Jets went down by 21 points at Bensons Lane, the injury-plagued home team led last year's grand finalists for most of the game.
It was only a seven-minute burst in the final term that got the visitors the points.
Jets coach Brendan Howden said his side played with enormous confidence against a far-stronger opposition.
Last year the Lions came away from Bensons Lane with a 16-goal win. They're currently sitting equal top of the ladder and most observers would have been confident of a similar result last Saturday," Howden said.
Our guys did really well considering they were basically a bunch of kids. We've got several senior players out and I was very pleased with their efforts to fill the void.
"They produced probably the best performance by a Jets team in the club's short history.
"For most of the game I thought we'd get up and win."
Howden praised the efforts of first-gamers Joe Pajeska, Mark Howden and Adam Rixon, and fellow youngster Don Waterston.
"They weren't overawed by their elevation and proved they have the potential to become regulars in the senior team."
The scores were tight all day and the Jets went into the last quarter with a three-point lead.
Wollongong, kicking with the aid of a strong breeze, piled on three goals in the first seven minutes of the last quarter to take control of the match.
The Jets opened the game strongly, with David Blyth contesting hard in the ruck and Steven Chase doing an excellent job tagging the Lions' main playmaker Trevor Burnett.
Nathan Holland's long kicking into the forward line created numerous scoring opportunities, while Mick Earl played his usual high-calibre game.
Fraser Thomson followed on from last week's best-on-ground performance, with another top effort at centre half back.
Final Scores: Wollongong 11.7 (73) def Nor-West Jets 7.10 (52).
Goal Kickers: Travis Bates (3), Peter Kyle (2), Adam Rixon and Joe Pajeska.
Last Modified on 27/11/2010 15:35
