The Northern Jets were left to rue one that got away on Saturday when Charles Sturt University survived a desperate final quarter at Ariah Park to emerge victorious by a solitary point.
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The 10.13 (73) to 10.12 (72) win propelled the Bushpigs into fifth on the ladder, a position they hope to consolidate at The Rock next week.
It took some desperation, a little luck, and composed experience from Joe Stapleton to deliver a sweet result for CSU.
“It’s just rewarding for the boys… they were four really hard quarters of footy and I think for them to come off victors, it’s a really big reward. I’m stoked for them,” CSU coach Pat Noonan said.
The Bushpigs were down by a couple of goals at quarter time but got on top in the second term to lead by seven points at the main break. The game see-sawed in the third but CSU still held a nine-point advantage heading into the final quarter, when the Jets threw everything except a second goal at them.
While Vas Seker and Brayden Ambler – two of CSU’s best all day – missed chances to extend their lead beyond two goals, it was the Jets who dominated field position and opportunities.
But ill discipline from Aiden Cattle saw a Jets’ free kick in their forward 50 overturned early.
Mitch Haddrill couldn’t convert a nice mark on the boundary, hitting the pos. But a superb individual goal from midfielder Codan Frankel brought the Jets within a goal and the Ariah Park crowd to its feet midway through the quarter.
Imposing himself on the game, Frankel almost followed it up four minutes later, only to just miss.
As time-on approached, Jacob Bell missed a chance, as did Shannon Charlie attempting to bend a grubber from the pocket just two minutes from full-time but the Jets were within a point.
However, Stapleton, who swung to the backline to cover for a concussed Jack Thompson, produced an intercept mark, a desperate tackle and a superb punch out of a contest, all in the last five minutes. His contribution was critical to a defence which had held the Bushpigs together throughout.
“It was stressful, for sure. They always are those sort of wins,” Noonan said.
“I just said Joe, you’ve got to go to centre-half-back and he pretty much nearly won us the game there.”
Louis Miller was excellent in the midfield for CSU against a Haddrill-led Jets outfit.
The home side’s Darwin trio of Shannon Charlie, Daniel Benger and Jacon Lampton also impressed.
Disappointed Jets coach Mitch Robinson said their discipline let them down, but was happy with an improved effort from his side.
Both sides have a lingering concern with Jack Fisher and Jack Thompson both reported for rough conduct over separate incidents.
CSU’s second win in a row was a reward for improvement after they came up against the top three teams in their first three games.
“It was scrappy, just purely because the pressure was so hot,” Noonan said.
“I think we’re starting to gel a bit more but I think we’ve still got a fair way to go in terms of development.
“We just need to tweak a couple of little things and then I think we’ll be firing.
“I really, really hope that happens this week, before The Rock next week. That’s my next target and the boys are thinking about it already, which is good.”