Northern Jets sweat on availability of key players for CSU contest

The Northern Jets are sweating on the availability of recruits Justin Mesman and Mark Kimball for Saturday’s game against CSU.

The pair were among a handful of late withdrawals from the Jets’ side that went down to Temora last week. 

“Hopefully they can come up for this week,” Jets co-coach Sam Fisher said.

“They’re still not 100 percent, but we’ll give them every chance.

“CSU is a must-win game now, so we can’t go in trying to take it too lightly.

“You don’t want to bring anyone back a week early from injury then they miss a month, but if they’re a chance of playing, we’ve got to play them.”

With games against East Wagga-Kooringal (home), Coleambally (away) and Marrar (home) in coming weeks, the Jets are desperate to get their second win on the board.

They’ll definitely be without defender Mitch Robinson, who injured his ankle early last week against Temora, but hope to have Stu Hutchins back.

The loss to the Kangaroos has put the pressure on. Fisher was impressed with his old club.

“I rate Temora this year – with the losses they’ve had, Christin Macri’s done a great job to get them up to where they are,” he said.

“The way they moved the footy in the first half, we just couldn’t keep up with them.”

The Jets’ pressure in the midfield improved in the second half and they got back in the game with ruckman Josh Plozza and Tim Gray kicking three goals each.

“We tried Josh down forward late and he put us back in the game,” Fisher said.

“He presented well and he takes a great grab… he’s been in our best three players every week.”

Fisher said the Jets are getting used to Gray’s game and expect his contribution will improve with each outing.

CSU have named an extended bench after the university break, but coach Daniel Athanitis is still sidelined with a knee while new ruckman Dom Smith is yet to make an appearance. 

Meantime, Josh Meiselbach could return for The Rock-Yerong Creek against North Wagga.

The enigmatic ruckman has been named as an emergency but is tipped to play his first senior game of the season.

The Saints’ only change is Alex Hay onto the bench with key defender and assistant coach Daniel Jordan (hamstring) sidelined for up to three weeks.

Defenders Dave Karlberg and Brayden Skeers will have the jobs on Pies’ spearheads Andy Carey and Mitch Ward.

Sam Burley has been named on the bench, pending a fitness test, after missing most of the loss to East Wagga-Kooringal with an ankle injury.