Tara Murray
The Western Jets did what they needed to do to come away with the win in the opening round of the NAB League Boy’s season.
Facing the Brisbane Lions Academy on Sunday at Highgate Reserve, the Jets led all day in the 14.5 (89)-10.6 (66) win.
The second quarter was the key for the Jets when they kicked five goals to none to open up a 34-point lead.
Jets coach Robbie Chancellor said they will be better for the match.
“We won by about four goals in the end,” he said. “It was a bit scrappy, but we did what we had to do.
“The Lions already had a couple of games under their belts, but it was our first competitive outing for us.”
Chancellor said there were some good signs and they were able to show some of the stuff they had been working on over the off season.
He said they knew it would take some time to put it all together.
“Often it will take time to find rhythm and settle,” he said. “We saw the effort of what we have been practicing.
“We’ll be better for it next week.”
Chancellor said the two co-captains Massimo D’Ambrosio and Jaelen Pavlidis were the standouts in the win. The two 19-year-olds come from Point Cook and Werribee Districts football club’s respectively.
D’Ambrosio had 28 possessions, while Pavlidis had 21 possessions.
“They stepped up particularly when we got challenged in the second half.”
Harry Miller kicked three goals in his Western Jets debut. Logan Morris, who was a late inclusion on Sunday morning, kicked two goals in a good performance.
Chancellor said they had eight debutants in the match, which was good signs for the future.
The Jets this week face Gippsland Power on Sunday at Morwell.
Gippsland Power is also coming off a first round win, having beaten the Murray Bushrangers 14.12 (96)-7.5 (47).
In other first round results, the Calder Cannons beat the Greater Western Sydney Giants by four points on Saturday.
The Greater Western Victoria Rebels were too good for the Bendigo Pioneers, winning 13.12 (90)-8.11 (59).
The Northern Knights came out firing against the Sydney Swans Academy, winning 14.11 (95)-3.8 (26), while the Dandenong Stingrays 12.9 (81)-9.13 (67).
In the other two matches, the Oakleigh Chargers beat the Sandringham Dragons, 11.15 (81)-9.9 (63), while the Geelong Falcons won a thriller against the Gold Coast Suns Academy, 9.14 (68)-9.13 (67).
