GWS 12.11.83

Jets 9.5.59

Goals

GWS: Murphy 4, Bray 4, Bruce 3

Jets: Fairley 2, T Jones 2, Jawad, D Jones, Mead , Schibeci

Best

GWS: Mahony, Birch, Bray, Flagg, Duncan, Bernasconi

Jets: Giles, Dorgan, Schibeci, Fairley, Mead

Team GWS has successfully notched up its second straight victory after defeating the Western Jets by 24 points at Manuka Oval in Canberra on Saturday.

From the outset the game proved to be a close encounter, with neither side able to secure a clear lead in the first half with just six points separating the teams.

Team GWS were able to capitalise on their good ball use entering their forward fifty a number of times but unfortunately were unable to covert this to score board pressure with a number of misses in front of goals. The second half proved the difference with Team GWS scoring six goals to the Jets’ three.

Team GWS Head Coach Alan McConnell was happy his team were able to continue their winning momentum. “It was a great result. Through their hard work , they’ve certainly earned the win. It’s been a pretty long month. The previous couple of weeks we played weren’t what you would call our best performances.

“We’ve done a fair bit of soul searching and been pretty honest with the boys. They showed that they have grown up a bit and certainly got a return for their effort.

McConnell said he was happy with the improvements the players showed with their ball use.

“I think we showed far more composure around the ball and with the ball that resulted in far more entries inside 50. Unfortunately we didn’t kick straight otherwise I think the result would have been a much bigger margin.”

Blake Bray and local ACT talent Josh Bruce provided strong targets up forward kicking seven between them. Kane Murphy also proved handy in front of goals walking away with four for the game.

Another Canberra native Kaine Stevens showed good commitment around the contest and provided strong tackling pressure.

McConnell said it was interesting that a number of the Canberra boys played well, with many of the boys building expectation on themselves.

“We talked about there being a lot of expectation on the local boys during the lead up, we realised most of this was being placed on them by themselves. Interestingly not only did all the Canberra boys play extremely well but a number of the boys played their best game for us for the year.”

“We have now played 48 different players in this team in six weeks – that is a massive interruption on tis own. Its something that were really proud of, that we’ve been able to give that many boys from NSW and ACT the opportunity to play and interestingly to have done that and to still continue to improve, our staff need a real pat on the back for that.”

They boys now have a week off with the national carnival starting this week. They will then travel south to take on the Northern Knights for the second time this year on Saturday May 29 at 11am.