THE lessons learned from round one were forgotten as Balmain handed Nor-West a 64-point caning and a harsh reality check of how far it is from challenging at the business end of the AFL Sydney Division Two season on Sunday.
The rejuvenated Dockers were no match for the Jets last season, but a heavy recruiting spree over the past two seasons has showed signs of paying off in an undefeated start to this season, and the Jets found out the hard way in a clash relocated from Drummoyne Oval to Marrickville’s Mahoney Reserve.
Nor-West was no match for Balmain from the start, with the Dockers proving bigger, stronger, fitter and more polished as they opened up an 18-point lead at quarter time and extended that to 34 by the main break, with the Jets having already lost Matthew Lloyd and Casey Wenselowski before the game and Chris Kyle and Josh Howe to injury during it.
Despite a rev-up from coach Garry Bull, the match continued in the same vein in the third quarter as Balmain found another level, piling on 5.5 to 1.2 to stretch the margin to an embarrassing 61 points.
Nor-West finally managed to match the Dockers in the final term, kicking two goals each, but all it served to do was limit the damage as the home team cruised to a 14.16 100 to 5.6 36 victory.
Big ruckman Paul Webster was one of the few shining lights for the Jets, dominating in the middle and around the ground in a performance that also saw him kick two goals, but there was little support.
Defenders Don Ollington and Sam Makins worked overtime against bigger opponents, with their efforts keeping the margin from being much bigger, while Gerard Smits, Stuart Tibben and young star Josh Cass also tried hard.
Cass’ younger brother, Jesse, 15, made his senior debut and showed enough to suggest he will play many more for the club.
NOR-WEST 1.2 2.3 3.5 5.6 36
BALMAIN 4.2 7.7 12.12 14.16 100
NWJ Goals: P Webster 2, J Thomson, J Dowl, J Howe.
NWJ Best: P Webster, D Ollington, S Makins, G Smits, S Tibben.
SYDNEY councils continue to be the bane of football throughout the city, with the reserves’ match being postponed to the Queen’s Birthday long weekend after Woollahra closed Trumper Park at short notice – so short, in fact, that many of the Jets were already well on their way to the ground.
The AFL Sydney competition has a general bye this weekend for Easter and Anzac Day before the Jets return home on Saturday, April 30, to try and get their season on track, with the reserves playing Macquarie University at 12pm and the seniors meeting Camden at 2.10pm.
Last Modified on 16/05/2011 14:02
