Greenvale’s season is on the line, with last year’s Essendon District Football League premier division champion looking increasingly likely to miss the finals.
The Jets started the season slowly, but got back on track after putting together five wins in a row.
But unlike last season, the Jets have struggled to maintain momentum and are sixth on the ladder, two games outside the top four.
While the Jets face three teams below them in the run home, four wins may not be enough for a top-four spot.
“It’s not in our making, whether we make finals,” Jets president Bruce Kent said.
“We have to win our four matches and hope results go our way.
‘‘We’re confident of winning those matches – we defeated all those teams early in the season – but it’s not just about winning.
Our win-loss ratio this season has been about winning matches against teams below us then mostly losing to the teams above us.”
On Saturday, the Jets suffered their seventh loss of the season after a last-quarter collapse against top side Strathmore.
Greenvale had its chances but was overrun in the final quarter, losing 14.20 (104) to 13.7 (85).
“It was very disappointing,” Kent said.
“We played strongly at the start of the game, but they came over the top of us.
“They picked up their workrate and were kicking with a slight wind in the final quarter.”
The Jets were 19 points up at three-quarter time.
But Kent said they weren’t confident of the win, having conceded the three goals of the third term.
“We were playing good football but we need to do it for four quarters, not just show glimpses.”
Kent said Stephen Brewer stood tall for the Jets, but there simply weren’t enough players who maintained intensity for four quarters.
The Jets will take on Essendon Doutta Stars at Greenvale on Saturday.
“We still have a few players out, but hopefully they come back in over the next couple of weeks,’’ Kent said. “We will continue to put out the best team possible and hopefully get the wins.”
