WESTERN Jets are aiming to be competitive in 2024, with the Metropolitan region set to help kick off this year’s Coates Talent League in Saturday morning’s season opener. Talent Lead Luke Williams was on hand during preseason to talk through the campaign ahead, and Western’s top prospects.

PRESEASON

“For the boys and the girls, this is the first year we’ve had the head coach do a full preseason with the team having had a season previously. We’ve had a lot of turnover with head coaches over the years, so from the point of view of the players gelling and being on the same page, and the coaches getting their expectations across, it’s been one of the better ones that I’ve been involved in.”

TOP PROSPECT

Lucca Grego
Midfielder | 184cm | 15/09/2006

“Lucca will be our highest profile player for this year. He’s coming into his third season with the 18’s in some respects, he played games as a 16-year-old and obviously played the full season last year.

“He’s had a full preseason, he’s one of the most dedicated trainers that I’ve seen come through the program. He hasn’t missed a beat so it’ll be about how his footy stands up on game day now.”

>> Profiled: 2024 Vic Metro Talent Hub

ONES TO WATCH

“Daniel Snell had some surgery at the end of last year to his hip. He had a limited preseason before Christmas, but since he’s been back on the track he’s really caught up and he’s going really well. He’s got natural athletic ability and some power, so he’s got real scope and has been quite impressive.

“Massimo Raso, who was runner up in our best and fairest last year as a small midfielder, will play a bit more forward. He’s had some injury struggles in previous years’ preseasons, but not this year. He’s had a full hit at it and looks pretty exciting.

“They’re probably the main two… then we’ve got a couple of bottom-age players that are really complimenting the top-end group in Thomas Burton and Thomas McGuane, who in particular have slotted right into important roles. It’s exciting, I’m looking forward to Round 1 already.”

2024 GOALS

“I think like any year, we want to be incredibly competitive as a region against the others, and we have the benefit in some ways of having some consistency with our group. We’re not as impacted by APS and even Vic Metro to some extent, so we just want to be consistent and competitive and give some opportunities to bottom-agers through the year, which is our typical philosophy or style.”

ROUND 1

“I don’t want to get ahead of myself, but they’re probably the most gelled that I’ve seen a group for quite some time. Whether we have the absolute top-end talent to get the chocolates on the day against some other regions, I’m not sure. But they’ve all been really well coached and they’re all on the same page as far as I can tell.”

vs. Northern Knights @ Trevor Barker Beach Oval
Saturday March 23, 10:30am

>> Season Preview: Northern Knights