It was the same old story for the Calder Cannons in the TAC Cup clash with Western Jets on Saturday.
As in so many matches this season, the Cannons have been slow out of the blocks and had to play catch-up football.
They actually hit the front in the last quarter at Burbank Oval after trailing by 22 points at the last break.
But they couldn’t stay there and a late Jets goal clinched an 8.7 (55)-7.11 (53) win.
Cannons coach Andrew Johnston said the match was similar to several they had played this season.
“The same old story of nearly there, but not quite,” he said.
“For a quarter and half we allowed them to get easy ball and we didn’t use the wind in the second quarter as well as we wanted to.
“With five or 10 minutes left in the third quarter they had stopped and we looked OK.
“We knew it was hard to come back in those conditions and we hit the front but couldn’t sustain it.”
Johnston said it was frustrating watching his side play as poorly as it did in the first quarter and a half.
“When they follow instructions, we’re as good as anyone in the competition,” he said.
“When they go outside the instructions we aren’t as good.
“If you make mistakes while following instructions we can handle that.
“We’ll keep playing the boys who listen and may start playing more 17-year-olds looking ahead to next season.”
Two Sunbury boys, Zachary Guthrie and Bradley Bernacki, were again the standouts for the Cannons.
Bernacki is still 16 and in his first year in the under-18 side.
“There’s been sensational development by Zach this season,” Johnston said.
“Brad has been sensational playing on the best midfielders in the competition. He has stood up and led the way and showed the older guys how to go about it.
“He was injured for a lot of pre-season and I wasn’t sure about what he could do. They kept telling me he was in our best 25 players. Now I’d say he’s in our best five.”
Ryan Baker also impressed in his best game for the season.
The Cannons remain 11th on the ladder with two wins in eight matches.
