It’s the pre-season news the Northern Jets didn’t want or need. And coach Mitch Robinson wasn’t about to sugar coat the unexpected departure of captain Sam Fisher.
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“It’s a massive blow for us,” Robinson said.
The Canberra-based Fisher has left the Jets after a change in his work commitments prevented him travelling back. He will instead play for Belconnen in the Canberra competition.
“He was pretty gutted. He made the phone call and said it wasn’t something he wanted to do,” Robinson said. “But work has to come first in country footy so there’s not much we can do about it.
‘But obviously he’s our captain and our leader and after the year he had last year – he led from the front and stepped up in games we need him to – so it’s a blow.”
Fisher won three flags in four years at Temora before returning to his junior club, the Jets, in 2015. He stepped up to be co-coach in 2016 when the club made the preliminary final.
He travelled to play as co-captain last year and finished fifth in the league best-and-fairest.
Robinson said the Jets have also lost defender Jayden McLean to Ungarie.
“You don’t really know who you’ve got until the footy season starts… I was super happy with where we were at a few weeks ago, but it’ll be a chance for other kids to step up and take their opportunities,” he said.
The Jets will look to their recruits, and are hopeful of another signing or two.