The Northern Jets answered both the challenge of Barellan and the rallying cry of coach Mitch Robinson at three-quarter-time on Saturday, to deliver the club's first win for the season.
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Saving their best quarter for last at Ardlethan, the home side kicked away to a 25-point win in the local derby, 12.14 (86) to 9.7 (61).
The Two Blues – desperate for their first points of the season – kicked four goals in the third quarter to be within a kick of the lead.
It put the wind up the Jets. So did Robinson.
“We definitely had our backs against the wall just before three-quarter-time. They kicked a couple of goals and were coming pretty hard,” Robinson said.
“They were just working a little bit harder than us. We weren’t too accountable and dropped off a little bit so I put it on the boys… You know, if we really want to win, we’ve got to dig in, match it with them and lift our game a bit.
“Show us a bit of pride. And the boys, to their credit – it wasn’t the supporters on the sideline or us coaches, it was the boys that got it done.”
Barellan, led by Sean Ellis, had been four points down at quarter-time, eight points behind at half-time, and then kicked four goals in the third term to trail by just four again.
Jack Fisher was superb for the Jets all day but a full team effort in the fourth quarter saw them seize control and finish strongly, kicking 4.4 and holding the Two Blues to 1.1.
After a loss to EWK in round one and the bye last week, Robinson was relieved to bring up their first win.
“It’s good to get the monkey off the back, I suppose, and be back in the winners’ circle for 2018,” Robinson said.
“It’s always a hard game against Barellan and they’re definitely going to push a few sides this year.”
The Jets had 10 different goalkickers, with Mick Foster and Aiden Cattle kicking two each. Foster finished with a handful of behinds as well but Robinson said the delivery in wasn’t ideal, and Barellan’s pressure was also a major factor.
As well as Fisher’s key role, some of the Jets’ new faces stood tall including midfielder Josh Avis and Darwin teenager Shannon Charlie.
“Shannon Charlie was really good today, up forward and swapping on-ball a bit,” Robinson said. And it was good to see Josh Avis and Brad McKinnon out there. They both worked into the game and they’ll be very handy for us.”
The Jets have another derby next week at Temora.
Ellis continues to make a big impression for Barellan. While the Two Blues have been unable to pick up a win in the first three rounds, there’ll be a big focus on their next game against CSU, in round five, following next week’s bye.
