Sunbury Jets’ women’s side won’t make finals, but there has been massive improvement on last year’s Big V division 1 performance.
The Jets look set to finish sixth or seventh, a long way from the wooden spoon ‘won’ in 2014.
The final game of the year is on Saturday night against Hawthorn.
Coach Michael Thomas said it was disappointing not to make finals.
“There are lots of positives … the new girls Genevieve McCorkell, Leanne Urbon and Kelsey Sigl have settled in really well, and there’s been major development with some of the younger girls.”
Thomas said a mid-year slump was the difference between missing and making finals.
“Early on, we had some really good wins against Geelong and Mildura when we clicked together,” he said. “We then had a couple of tough losses in the middle of the year.
“We struggled with the chemistry as we tried different things.”
Thomas said a big positive was the development of some of the younger players.
“Tamara Knox has played most of the year and played really well. Alex Darby has stepped up into the senior side.
“Chloe Angove is not even in our youth side. She is in our under-18 side. She has become available, and has played the last four games.”
He said having an import for the first time in Kelsey Sigl has also been a success, with the club looking at having another import next year.
“The side has a budget for next year to have an import again. It will be Kelsey or someone else like her. We need to look at whether she wants to come back again.”
Thomas said while they will only win two or three more games than last year, 2015 has seen a big improvement.
“There’s always going to be improvement when you finished on the bottom of the ladder. There’s a big gap to make up, and other teams have improved too.
“Finishing sixth or seventh is a significant improvement,” Thomas said.
On Saturday night, the Jets tested top side Whittlesea Pacers. After a poor start, the Jets trailed by four points at half-time, and ended up losing 92-79.
Thomas, who is out of contract at season’s end, said he would like to continue next year.
“We’ve had an average season and an OK season. I want to finish on a better note.”
