Tara Murray
The Western Jets might have a different squad, but the Coates Talent League squad is still full of talent.
Coming off a premiership last season, the Jets have four players drafted and another picked up before as a pre-draft selection.
Also with a new coach in Hayley Gossow, things are different down at the Jets this season.
“It’s a very different squad,” she said. “We were lucky enough to get a couple of kids drafted last year.
“We had a fairly large contingent of top agers, so we have a different squad.
“All of the kids are developing after an extra year in the program. I think we still have a pretty strong side.”
Gossow said they still had more top agers, but there was a fairly even spread across the ages.
She said the likes of Grieves and Kiera Whiley had been thrown different challenges which was really exciting.
Sacha Nelson , who is a top ager, gets her first chance at the Jets, while a couple of players like Brodie and Court who were in the program last season will get more opportunities.
The Jets had a bye on the weekend.
It came after they had a loss in their opening match of the season against the Tasmania Devils.
After having a bye the first two rounds, the Jets started the season on the road against the Devils.
The Jets led by one point at quarter time, before the Devils kicked the only two goals of the second quarter to lead by 10 points at the main break.
The Devils were able to increase their lead in the third quarter with three goals to one. The Jets showed some fight in the final term, kicking two goals to one, but still fell short.
The Devils won 8.5 (53)-5.7 (37).
Jets coach Hayley Gossow said there wasn’t much between the two sides.
“We were happy to get a proper game under our belt,” she said.
“It was a great game of footy, but we didn’t come away with the win. We had the opportunity, but we felt like Tassie took their opportunities and we couldn’t get the forward connections in to the forward 50.
“We will go away and work on that.
Tamara Henry was the only multiple goal kicker for the Jets.
Sierra Grieves got plenty of the ball for the Jets with 32 possessions and was named the Jets best.
Ella Tyson, Jade Cilia and Hannah Brodie were among the other standouts.
Gossow said heading to Tasmania was really good for the group, as it helps the group grow and bond together.
