THE Western Jets will feature in TAC Cup finals in coach Torin Baker’s first year in charge.
The Jets booked their September ticket with a go-to-whoa 74-point
drubbing of the Bendigo Pioneers on the road at Epsom Huntly Reserve on
Saturday.
The Jets meant business from the outset, piling on 10 scoring
shots to none in a dominant first quarter to lead by 40 at the break.
The one-way traffic continued for the remainder of the game with
only the Jets’ inaccurate kicking for goal sparing further pain for the
Pioneers.
Western (fourth, 9-1-6) started the round in a battle to make the
eight but ended it knowing a win against Sandringham Dragons in this
weekend’s final game will guarantee a top-four position and a double
chance.
Melton’s Mark Orr and fellow Jets ruckman Duom Dawam were dominant in the centre and kicked two goals each.
Darley’s Brett Bewley and Bacchus Marsh’s Liam Duggan continued their strong seasons.
“If we hadn’t have won today, we would’ve put not only our double
chance in jeopardy, but we might’ve put our spot in the eight in
jeopardy as well,” Jets region manager Shane Sexton said. “It was a
good, solid performance.”
Duggan was last week announced as a level two AIS-AFL squad
member. That means three Australian-based camps as a member of Michael
O’Loughlin’s squad for the youngster before a tour of Europe in April
next year.
Dawam was the other Western Jet named in the program, while
Romsey’s Jake Lever (Calder Cannons) was the only Riddell District
league player picked.
ljenkinson@mmpgroup.com.au
