The Nor-West Jets weathered an early challenge from an experienced Balmain Tigers outfit to record their 7th win in a row, and head to the mid season break with a share of first place in Division 3. The Jets have been decimated by injury over the past 5 weeks, and went into the game without Co-Captain Warwick Smith and fellow backman Brad Pond, but welcomed back key defender Aaron Bayne and forward Jye Brennan, among a host of promoted Reserve Grade players given a chance to show their talents. Adding to this, the Seniors also had 4 players who had earlier played Reserve Grade at Kensington, so the Jets had their work cut out for them before the ball was even bounced.
Balmain caught the Jets off guard in the first 5 minutes, as they controlled the ball through the middle and had 3 goals on the board before the Jets could push the ball forward. This only served to wake the home side from their slumber, as they fired up and took the game back off the Tigers, adding the next 6 goals to take an 18 point advantage to the first break. Zane Priest, after several Best On Ground performances in Reserve Grade, relished the opportunity to play in the Seniors and carried his form into this match as he tore Balmain apart on the rebound from half back, while Louis Butler continued his dominance on the wing with a damaging display, setting up several goals throughout the day. The Jets and Tigers went goal for goal in the second term, but Nor-West’s back 6 held firm against countless forward attacks from Balmain to stretch the lead to 25 at the long break. Young guns Brad Burn and Josh Edwards held their own against bigger and older opponents in a sign of the Jets youthful future.
After conceding a 50 point lead at half time and narrowly winning against Gosford the week before, Coach Mark Johnston revved the Jets up at half time, imploring them not to give Balmain a sniff, and the home side added 4 goals to 2 in the third quarter. Michael Gray was unstoppable across half forward, constantly presenting for the ball and showcasing his experience, while forward targets Connor Moore, Josh James and Pete Kyle feasted on the regular delivery into the forward 50. The last quarter saw the ball camped in the Jets forward 50 for much of the term as they added 4 more goals to run away with a 54 point win, 17.13-115 to 9.7-61.
Goal Kickers: P. Kyle 9, J. James 2, C. Moore 2, B. Jennison , M. Gray , R. Johnston , J. Edwards
Best Players: L. Butler, Z. Priest, P. Kyle, M. Gray, B. Burn, J. Edwards
| # | Player | G | BST |
|---|
| 2 |
|
9 |
3 |
| 35 |
Connor Moore
|
2 |
0 |
| 41 |
Josh James
|
2 |
0 |
| 39 |
Joshua Edwards
|
1 |
6 |
| 17 |
Michael Gray
|
1 |
4 |
| 5 |
Ryan Johnston
|
1 |
0 |
| 55 |
Benjamin Jennison
|
1 |
0 |
| 64 |
Bradley Burn
|
0 |
5 |
| 74 |
Zane Priest
|
0 |
2 |
| 23 |
Louis Butler
|
0 |
1 |
| 10 |
Daniel Guthridge
|
0 |
0 |
| 33 |
Michael Morgan
|
0 |
0 |
| 15 |
David Clinch
|
0 |
0 |
| 61 |
Jarryd Smith
|
0 |
0 |
| 14 |
Aaron Bayne
|
0 |
0 |
| 8 |
Ethon Coombs
|
0 |
0 |
| 70 |
Owen Butcher
|
0 |
0 |
| 78 |
Richard Boucher
|
0 |
0 |
| 18 |
Troy Clent
|
0 |
0 |
| 16 |
Seb Goldrick
|
0 |
0 |
| 47 |
Matthew Schwager
|
0 |
0 |
| 62 |
Jye Charlton Brennan
|
0 |
0 |
Earlier in the day, the Reserves headed to the grounds of University of NSW to face the strong UNSW/ES Bulldogs, who were sitting in 6th position. A wet and cold Village Green played host to an entertaining game of football, and it was the Dogs who got the better start of the game as they took the ball from the centre to goal early. The Jets held a slender lead at the first break, and extended the lead to 16 points at the main break. Dan Soderman and Josh Patterson had the bulk of the ball across the centre, while Zack Coombs turned in his best game for the blue and white, winning countless possessions and putting his body on the line all day. Harry Stever and Richard Boucher stood tall against a heavy UNSW forward line, who turned the tables on the Jets after half time with the first 3 goals of the third quarter, and it turned into a battle with heavy hits around the ground. Musa Bakan was the smallest player on the field but stood out with his pace and tenacity, bringing opponents twice his size and weight to ground on several occasions.
There was only 12 points difference at the last break in the Jets favour, and a nail biting final quarter saw the Jets pepper the goals for a return of just 7 behinds, while the Bulldogs kept coming, however Michael Morgan and Nor-West’s Co-Captain Nick Bradshaw led the Jets defence and held out a number of forward raids to clinch a famous 6 point victory, 7.10-52 to 6.10-46, and maintain first place in Division 5 for another week.
Goal Kickers: D. Soderman 3, C. Anderson 2, D. Draper , H. Stever
Best Players: Z. Coombs, H. Stever, M. Bakan, D. Soderman, M. Morgan, R. Boucher
| # | Player | G | BST |
|---|
| 59 |
Daniel Soderman
|
3 |
4 |
| 97 |
Cheyne Anderson
|
2 |
0 |
| 4 |
Harry Stever
|
1 |
2 |
| 60 |
David Draper
|
1 |
0 |
| 76 |
Richard Boucher
|
0 |
6 |
| 33 |
Michael Morgan
|
0 |
5 |
| 63 |
Musa Bakan
|
0 |
3 |
| 56 |
Zackary Coombs
|
0 |
1 |
| 67 |
Jye Brennan Charlton
|
0 |
0 |
| 29 |
Scott Braid
|
0 |
0 |
| 22 |
Jesse Pinder
|
0 |
0 |
| 73 |
Ajang Duot
|
0 |
0 |
| 31 |
Jack Bennett
|
0 |
0 |
| 49 |
Blake Heggie
|
0 |
0 |
| 42 |
Dylan Cruz
|
0 |
0 |
| 26 |
Joshua Patterson
|
0 |
0 |
| 48 |
Daniel Harding
|
0 |
0 |
| 37 |
Nicholas Bradshaw
|
0 |
0 |
| 16 |
Seb Goldrick
|
0 |
0 |
| 51 |
Owen Hickman
|
0 |
0 |
| 68 |
Ashley Light
|
0 |
0 |
| 66 |
Alex Lorenzelli
|
0 |
0 |
The Jets take a well deserved and much needed break over the long weekend, and in Round 10, the Seniors head to Cherrybrook to face Pennant Hills, while the Reserves are off to Trumper Park in Paddington to do battle with UTS Bats.
Last Modified on 03/06/2014 07:28
