A DISAPPOINTING season of underachievement received its last rites when the Nor-West Jets fell to a 72-point loss to Manly-Warringah in the final round of the AFL Sydney Division Two season at Harbord’s Weldon Oval on Saturday.
Being badly undermanned due to injuries and RAAF deployments, the Jets were never in the contest against the fired up Wolves, who put the match on ice with seven goals to one in the first quarter and romped to a 16.6 102 to 3.12 30 victory.
Despite working hard throughout the match, the Jets couldn’t get any system going, and it was apparent early on that this would be the club’s fifth straight defeat to end the season on an empty note in sixth position.
Young defender Tom Roberts was a shining light for Nor-West, which at least stemmed Manly’s flow by conceding just five goals in the second half, but poor kicking meant the Jets could only add 1.9 of their own.
Jebal Williams turned in a strong performance, as did Owen Butcher and Aaron Bayne, while Grant Hoffman and Ryan Johnston were others to hold their heads high.
NOR-WEST 1.1 2.3 3.6 3.12 30
MANLY-WARRINGAH 7.2 11.3 14.3 16.6 102
NWJ Goals: W Smith, A Bayne, S Tibben.
NWJ Best: T Roberts, J Williams, O Butcher, A Bayne, G Hoffman, R Johnston.
THE Nor-West reserves were left to rue what might have been after they recorded a heart-stopping four-point victory over Manly-Warringah in a thrilling Division Four encounter.
In a match where neither team was able to build a margin of more than three goals, the Jets bounced back after being headed in the dying minutes when Scott Braid took an advantage call and snapped a final minute goal to secure an 11.4 70 to 10.6 66 win.
It was the Jets’ third straight win to finish the season and left them in seventh spot, but just 1.46% out of the top five on match ratio – one more victory would certainly have been enough for finals action – a remarkable result considering the team was on the brink of relegation just one week ago.
Manly looked the goods in the early going of the match, piling on six goals to three in the first term for a 19-point lead at quarter time, but the Jets bounced back quickly to cut the half time margin to just two points, including three goals in quick succession to Daniel Graham, who finished with six.
From there, the match seesawed as the teams went goal for goal and the defences tightened up with only seven goals kicked in the second half.
With full back Tony Joyce playing his best game for the season in repelling many forward thrusts with strong support from Warwick Smith, marking targets Graham, Jesse Bray, Andrew Travers and Matt Davidson pouching plenty of marks, ruckman Luke Allan winning almost every tap he contested, midfielders Stephen Chase, Gerard Smits and Michael Gray winning countless possessions and senior coach Garry Bull and Braid kicking two goals each, the Jets had plenty of genuine contributors.
In a drama-packed finish, the Jets looked safe with a 10-point lead until the Wolves kicked two quick goals to snatch the advantage with less than two minutes to go.
But they won a quick clearance and Bull won a free kick for high contact as Braid, who had earlier snapped a goal of the year contender in the third term, swooped on the loose ball, with advantage being called as he steered through the winner with less than a minute to play.
NOR-WEST 3.0 7.0 9.2 11.4 70
MANLY-WARRINGAH 6.1 7.2 8.4 10.6 66
NWJ Goals: D Graham 6, G Bull, S Braid 2, A Travers.
NWJ Best: T Joyce, S Chase, M Davidson, W Smith, D Graham, A Travers.
Keep an eye on www.nwjets.sydneyafl.com.au for details of the presentation night, which will be on September 24 at North Richmond Panthers, as well as the catering arrangements for the finals’ series.
Last Modified on 16/08/2011 22:52
