Tara Murray
The Western Jets girls just fell short in their season opener in the Coates Talent League.
After having a bye the first two rounds, the Jets started the season on the road against the Tasmania Devils on Saturday.
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 Grieves was improving every week after being given a new role.
“She has the ability to get around the ground. We’re looking at her as an inside mid and running with that.
“She tried to take a screamer at one point.”
Gossow said heading to Tasmania was really good for the group, as it helps the group grow and bond together.
She said they have a very different side to last season’s premiership team.
“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 Greives 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 Hannah Brodie and Jess Court who were in the program last season and will get more opportunities.
The Jets have a bye this week.
The Jets boys were also in action in Tasmania against the Devils.
The Devils took control of the game in the first quarter, kicking six goals to one, with neither team making the most of their opportunities.
The Jets got back into the game in the second quarter kicking six goals straight, to trail by just five points at the main break.
The margin was reduced to four points at the last break, with a goal a piece in the third quarter.
The Devils were able to do enough in the final quarter to get the 10.10 (70)-8.7 (55) win.
Jovan Petric was the start up forward for the Jets, kicking four goals.
Diesel Moloney had 33 possessions in the loss, while Jake Smith had 22 and Jack Kovacevic had 21.
