Newly-reappointed Northern Jets coach, Mitch Robinson, rates North Wagga as the best side he’s seen this year. But he still believes they could be ripe for the picking at McPherson Oval on Saturday, coming off a shock loss to Coleambally last week.
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Robinson has just signed on for a second season as coach but his focus is firmly on this year’s finals, as the sixth-placed Jets kick off a tough last month against the Saints.
“I still think to date they’re probably the best side we’ve played this year,” Robinson said.
“(But) I think they’re very vulnerable, losing to Coleambally last week.
“We’ve had the week off and got to freshen up a few bodies. They’re coming off a pretty bad loss.
“So I think it’s great chance for us. It’s a pretty simple scenario for us – if we win our next four games we do play finals. So our fate’s in our own hands I suppose.”
The Jets will finish the home-and-away season against Coleambally (away), before hosting Marrar and East Wagga-Kooringal.
Kicking things off on a positive note at North Wagga is essential and the Jets intend to play them at their own game.
“I think we have to,” Robinson said. “The last few weeks we’ve gone away from taking the game on, with our run-and-carry.
“We don’t have the big forwards down there. We can’t just kick and hope, we’ve got to move the ball by hand and do it pretty quick.
“We’ve got to go back to that, which is what we did at the start of the year.”
Robinson’s reappointment was confirmed after their last game, a shock loss to Charles Sturt University.
It was shockingly costly when fifth-placed EWK upset The Rock-Yerong Creek on the same day.
But his re-signing was a vote of confidence in a side which looked up against it this year. despite a preliminary final finish to 2016.
“I’ve really enjoyed coaching and what we’ve done this year I’m super impressed with,” he said.
“I think we lost 15 players, which was a bit disappointing… but we’ve had a lot of improvement from some of our younger players and I think we’ve shocked a few people.
“To date, I think we’ve debuted seven blokes and they’re holding their spots, a lot of them, which is putting pressure on spots and that’s something we didn’t think we were going to have this year.”
The challenges have included injuries to key players including Mitch Haddrill, Sam Fisher and Jack Fisher, as well as four losses by less than 10 points.
“If we win those, I think we’d be sitting second,” Robinson said. “Which just shows how close a comp it is this year too.”
With at least a month still to come this year, Robinson’s also looking forward to what the next 12 might bring.
“If we can keep together what we’ve got and add a couple of key position players that we’re lacking this year, it keeps us on the front foot for next year,” he said.
Coaching capers:
- Continuing: Mitch Robinson (Jets), Shane Lenon (Marrar), Kirk Hamblin (North Wagga), Jake Wooden (Temora).
- Calling time: Gavin McMahon (EWK), Daniel Athanitis (CSU)
- Undecided: Barellan, TRYC, Coleambally