Nor-West Jets proved they could stick with the reigning premiers for three quarters at Bensons Lane last Saturday.
Leading only minutes before the last change, the Jets were shot down by Macquarie University late in the round four Sydney Football Association clash.
The students' class finally shone through, winning by 29 points.
Jets coach Brendan Howden was upbeat about the defeat and said his side was improving each week.
I thought we were going to run away with it in the third term but Macquarie's a very classy side," Howden said.
But he said his side proved, it wasn't far away from being a top-five contender.
At the start of the year we set ourselves a goal to kick three goals per quarter. After four games we're spot on target with 48 goals."We now have to step up to become a four-goal-per-quarter team and if we do that, we'll be finals material."
Howden praised the efforts of his younger players, including Jeremy Nelson and debutantes Willy Jackett and Gavin Hilder.
"They showed admirable poise under pressure and will gain a lot from the experience."
Fullback Nelson did a great job on Phil Ciani, restricting the spearhead to only four goals after he'd kicked 23 in the first three rounds.
The students led by 23 points at halftime before the Jets produced its best quarter of the season.
Daniel Graham came off the bench to give the Jets a strong presence up forward and kicked two goals. He also helped set up two more great team goals before Fraser Thomson produced the goal of the match.
The big full-forward grabbed the ball from a boundary line throw-in and snapped truly over his left shoulder to give the Jets the lead.
With Justin Tilson starring on the wing and David Wilson, Murry Woodcroft and Nelson solid in defence, the Jets looked like causing an upset. But two late goals to Macquarie put them four points up at the last break and heading for victory.
Last Modified on 27/11/2010 15:53
