SYDNEY University handed the Nor-West Jets an early season wake-up call when it cruised to a convincing 24-point victory in the AFL Sydney Division Two season opener at Bensons Lane on Saturday.
The Jets named their strongest line-up on paper for several years but many of them appeared to believe the hype about themselves and they played accordingly, turning in an insipid first quarter as the Students ran riot to lead 6.4 40 to no score at the first change.
Despite showing some improvement after that, poor disposal proved costly, and it wasn’t until the final quarter that they made any inroads, kicking five goals to two in an effort that was as frustrating as it was ineffective, and only served to reduce the early hit to the team’s percentage as Sydney Uni won 12.14 86 to 10.2 62.
But there were some positive signs, with Chris Kyle and Josh Howe in solid touch up forward, making the most of the limited opportunities to kick five and three goals respectively, while at the other end Matthew Lloyd and new assistant coach Don Ollington ensured the damage wasn’t even greater.
Adam Fox, Jono Dowl and late inclusion Grant Hoffman also tried hard in the middle in a losing cause.
NOR-WEST 0.0 3.1 5.1 10.2 62
SYDNEY UNI 6.4 8.8 10.13 12.14 86
NWJ Goals: C Kyle 5, J Howe 3, C Ahearn, J Berry.
NWJ Best: C Kyle, M Lloyd, D Ollington, A Fox, J Dowl, G Hoffman.
RESERVES
THE performance of the reserves team made the senior effort seem like déjà-vu as they produced a similarly listless first half before coming back late to limit the impact of a 14-point loss to UNSW-Eastern Suburbs in the early match.
Kicking with the wind in the first term, the Jets struggled to shake off a more determined and persistant Bulldogs’ outfit and went into the break with only a two-point lead.
It would prove decisive as the visitors kicked four goals to one in the second term and added the first of the third term to blow out to a 31-point advantage, and although captain Mick Grey, Chris Collins and Mick Yee tried to lift the team, the damage was done and the Bulldogs used their wind advantage in the last term to hold on for a 10.12 72 to 8.10 58 win.
Youngster Seb Goldrick turned in a strong effort on the last line of defence in his first game of football, while Daniel Langford and Steve Davidson bobbed up at times on the wings, but UNSWES simply wanted it more.
NOR-WEST 3.3 4.3 7.9 8.10 58
UNSWES 3.1 7.9 8.11 10.12 72
NWJ Goals: M Lewis 3, J Bray, S Davidson 2, M Davidson.
NWJ Best: M Gray, C Collins, M Yee, S Goldrick, D Langford, S Davidson.
The Jets will have the chance to show just how much ticker they have on home soil when both grades take on Holroyd-Parramatta at Bensons Lane on Saturday, with the reserves starting at 12pm.
Last Modified on 16/05/2011 14:02
