Four teams don’t fit into three finals spots. It’s an equation Jacana is well aware of in division 2 of the Essendon District Football League.
Before Saturday’s round of matches, the teams from second through to fifth, including the Jaguars, were equal on points.
With Hadfield on top of the ladder, four games clear of the group, and the bottom three teams out of the finals race, every win is vital for the Jaguars in the run home.
They gave their finals hopes a boost on Saturday with a win over another finals contender, Coburg Districts.
The Jaguars were poor in the first half, before kicking 10 goals to three in the second to win 15.15 (105) – 9.8 (62).
Coach Aaron Collins said confidence was high at the club after five wins in a row.
“Very happy to get the win,” he said. “It’s a confidence booster and a game we targeted for a win.
“It’s the first time in nine years we’ve won five in a row and it shows how far we have come. The reserves also look like playing finals.”
Collins said it was pleasing to see the side step up in the second half against the Lions.
“A couple of home truths were told at half-time about where we want to go with the season,” he said.
“I’m not sure whether we were waiting for it to just happen in the first half but the workrate lifted in the second and we started to attack the ball the way we normally would.”
Collins said some rotations and positional switches also helped.
“Chris Johnson moved into the midfield and we started to dominate the clearances and get the ball forward,” he said.
He said Beau Naim, Justin Cluney and Billy Morrison were other standouts.
The Jaguars face Moonee Valley and Hadfield in the next two weeks.
“Basically every game is a final and we’ve been looking at it that way for the last three weeks,” Collins said.
“There’s a lot of pressure on us but we’re looking forward to the next two weeks.”
He said the side was aware percentage could count come the final round.
“The defence is really strong and we’re getting fewer goals kicked against us,” he said. “We know we need to win games and win them well.”
Roxburgh Park, another side in the finals race, beat East Sunbury 10.13 (73) – 6.10 (46).
In division 1, Craigieburn and Westmeadows got wins, while Tullamarine lost. Greenvale was among the winners in premier division.
