“I’M so impressed with the work ethic the girls have shown this season,” was the sentiment of proud Team Jets coach, Emily Green, citing her side’s adjustments in strength and conditioning as a key ingredient for their early season success.
The Islanders occupy third in Regional League 1 with four wins from four, ahead of this weekend’s double-header, against Bristol Romans A tomorrow and Mavericks Eagles on Sunday.
“All games are challenging at this level,” said Green.
“That’s why we try not to look at the league table so much, especially this early in the season.
“Any team can bring in players that we don’t know about and have a different system and style. It’s always a challenge.
“This weekend, for example, Mavericks Eagles are sitting down the table, but we know they’re a highly capable team who pushed for promotion last season.
“Bristol Romans as well [formerly Premier Romans] have a massive strength in depth of teams and, again, could bring in new people and bring a different challenge.
“The main difference I think we have seen, is the physicality a lot of these teams have brought.”
Green was keen to credit her fellow coach, former England Netball captain and lead coach of the Team Jets programme, Serena Kersten, for the excellent work done in both pre-season and in-season for the extra strength and conditioning work they have asked of the squad.
“We knew this would be a massive boost for the group if done right,” Green added.
“It’s asking a lot of the girls, we’re in the gym twice a week as well as doing our regular skills-based work on court twice a week, so it’s a lot to ask of them.
“But the way they have responded has been absolutely magnificent and I fully believe our positive results on the court has been directly impacted by the improvements of our overall fitness.”
Green was also quick to emphasise how impressed she has been with the younger players in the squad and how ably they have stepped up this season.
With the absence of Jets stalwarts Jacy Brown, Lauren Devine and Kat Le Riche, as well as the crucial injury to star shooter Leah Griffin, youth has been essential this season.
Players such as Grace Thomson, Emily Le Gros, Florence Allo and Lara Spary are all still in their teens, proving the incredible youth development on offer within netball in Jersey and the standard progressing through the ranks in the Team Jets 2 squad and beyond.
“Having players of a younger age capable of stepping up to RL1 and manage, both physically and mentally well, is a blessing for us,” said coach Green.
“These young girls have brought so much energy and enthusiasm to the squad, I think it’s been a massive plus for us.
“Combining that with experience of players like Nicole [Goddard] and captain Rosie [Tonner], the blend is perfect and it’s great to see it come to fruition on the court.
“We have always set extremely high standards for ourselves, but it’s great to see the girls are always wanting to improve.
“We come off having won by a large scoreline and it might be easy to get complacent, but we speak to the girls one-on-one and they’re all saying areas they can improve on.
“It shows the drive to continue to improve is very much there. We have had our hearts broken a few times over the last few seasons in missing out on promotion in the play-offs and we want to make sure, all of us together, that doesn’t happen again.
“The enthusiasm combined with a fantastic work ethic is helping us perform to our best and we hope to continue that ride this weekend.”
Team Jets squad: Rosie Tonner (c), Lily Jones, Emily Le Gros, Maddie Fitzgerald-Wilkins, Nicole Goddard, Jodie Blampied, Samantha Salzone, Orie Amadi, Molly Luce, Becca Forrest, Grace Thomson (Sunday only)
