WESTERN Jets recovered from a precarious position to roll Gippsland Power by two points in a TAC Cup cliffhanger at Preston City Oval on Sunday.
The Jets were comprehensively outplayed in the first half and stared a 17-point deficit in the face at half-time.
Jets coach Torin Baker admitted to doubting his side’s chances of getting back in the game.
“I think everyone at the ground thought we were in a fair bit of trouble,” he said.
The Jets, aided by a stiff breeze in the third quarter, got their noses in front by three-quarter time, but it took something special in the last term for them to hold on for a remarkable win.
“Our last quarter was superb against the wind,” Baker said. “We won the clearances … it was really hard to score down that end and we were able to manufacture a couple of important goals.”
The Jets’ midfield brigade – minus injured Jake Greiser and the rested James Sicily – came to the fore at the crunch. David Iaccarino, Brett Bewley and Daniel O’Leary stood up in the absence of the Vic Metro stars, while Mitch Norton kicked three telling goals.
