It was a tough day all round on Saturday for the Northern Knights as they were comprehensively beaten by the Western Jets in the TAC Cup.
While the Knights were still in the game on the scoreboard at half-time, coach Justin Wenke said it was a poor game from the first whistle.
The Jets made the most of the Knights’ wastefulness in their forward 50, kicking six goals to two in the second half to win. Final scores were 10.13 (73)-6.8 (44).
Wenke said it was just one of those days.
“We didn’t play well,” he said.
“We got off to a really slow start and they got on the front foot. There was a breeze that was worth a couple of goals.
“We got in front with a minute to go in the second quarter, before they got a goal right on the siren and got momentum going back their way.
“It then just got worse from there. They were better in all areas.”
Wenke said the most frustrating thing was the use of the ball inside 50.
He said they had their most inside 50s for the year, but just couldn’t capitalise.
“The boys played how we wanted to in the last quarter and moved the ball quicker.
“We had our worst scoring efficiency for the season compared to inside 50s.
“We had 47 inside 50s, but went at under 30 per cent scores from those entries.”
Justin McInerney was the Knights’ best, along with 16-year-old ruckman Nathan Howard, who was playing his first game against an opponent two years older and several kilograms heavier.
The Knights played 14 bottom-age players in the year, with all clubs to have at least 12 bottom-age players playing at the weekend.
Wenke said it wasn’t too different from what they had been doing all year.
“Last round against Greater Western Victoria Rebels we had 12 bottom-agers, including two 16-year-olds.”
The Knights are in eighth with a 4-5-1 record, just half a game behind where they were at this time last year.
Wenke said it was now about continuing to make sure they improve each week.
In other results, Calder Cannons defeated the Eastern Ranges on Saturday.
The Cannons had the better of it after trailing at quarter-time, winning 11.8 (74)-8.7 (55).
Josh Kemp, in his first game for the Cannons, kicked four goals and was named one of the best along with Daniel Mott and Will Jury.
The Cannons sit in seventh spot, with four wins, five losses and a draw.
There is no TAC Cup action this weekend.
