Jacana produced its best four quarter performance of the season to beat local Hume rival Roxburgh Park in Essendon District Football League division 2.
It was the Jaguars who held strong for longest, kicking away to win 17.17 (119) – 8.17 (65).
The Jaguars made the most of the wind in the first quarter to lead by 34 points at quarter-time.
The second quarter was all the Magpies with the ball spending most of the quarter in their front half.
But they weren’t able to capitalise on the dominance they had, kicking 2.11 for the quarter.
Kicking with the wind in the third quarter, the Jaguars blew open the game with six more goals.
While the Magpies kicked a couple of goals early in the last quarter it was the Jaguars who finished off better.
Their six goals for the term were against the wind – only one goal had been kicked at that end for the first three quarters of the game.
Jaguars coach Robert Fletcher said he was happy to come away with a nine goal win against a really good side.
“We had 20 more inside 50s for the game. I don’t think we capitalised on that,” he said.
“Even in the second quarter, all their kicks [for goal] were outside 50 and we mentioned that at half-time. Yes, they’ve kicked a few points, but they were long kicks and they weren’t in dangerous positions with our backs doing the job there.”
An ill Cameron Cloke finished with four goals. The Evans boys, Michael and Rhys, were dominant in the midfield.
Fletcher said improved fitness was a key for the team this season, allowing players to run out games better. And he believes they are only going to get better.
“We’ve got four or five more blokes to come in,” he said.
“Shane Barry was out and Luke Roach didn’t play. Chris Johnson is another and there’s a couple others pushing from the twos who have come back from injury.
“I think the first few weeks we were scrappy working out how each other play.
“Now we’re starting to get momentum.”
The big matches continue for the Jaguars, they take on Coburg Districts in a top of the table clash.
The Jaguars lost their round one encounter with Coburg – their only loss for the season – and Fletcher said they were looking forward to testing themselves.
In other results, Greenvale’s hot form continued in premier division with a 26.11 (167)-6.10 (46) win against Avondale Heights
Craigieburn suffered a 23.17 (155)-6.3 (39) loss to Maribyrnong Park. In division 1, Westmeadows lost to Taylors Lakes, while Tullamarine defeated East Keilor.
