Jackas season in the balance

AJAX will almost certainly miss out on the double chance, after the side lost its second game in as many weeks, going down to fourth-placed Old Camberwell 11.16 (82) to 15.11 (101) on Saturday.

The side will need a form reversal when it plays second-placed Beaumaris on the weekend to avoid relinquishing third spot on the ladder to Old Camberwell, which is just one game and percentage behind Ajax, with four games to play.

Missing star forward David Fayman, who sustained a shoulder injury in the side’s 47-point loss to Mazenod last week, the Jackas struggled to capitalise on their opportunities in the forward line. Jake Lew and Josh Sacks went some way to picking up the slack with four goals each, while Jarrod White was influential around the ground and Corey Jankie rebounded well out of defence.

Camberwell kicked the first major of the day from an Ajax turnover, however the Jackas answered, kicking the next two goals of the quarter through Lew and Sacks. Camberwell goaled again, but Lew ensured his side went to the first break with a nine-point lead, kicking his second for the day.

The second term was a shootout and Jackas captain Gary Blieden opened the scoring with a nice snap out of a pack. Camberwell kicked the next two, but Ajax’s midfield was starting to win the clearances around the ground, and hit targets. Jason Israelson bombed a beauty from outside fifty, and Sacks and Marcus Jankie were added to the list of goal kickers. At half-time Ajax led by 10 points.

During the break, coach Bernie Sheehy told his charges, “You’ve gotta run onto the loose ball because they’re starting to get all the front and squares. It’s there for the taking”.

But it was Camberwell that lifted after the break, piling on seven goals to two to blow the game open. Lew kicked the home side’s only two majors for the term. Inaccuracy plagued Ajax again, the side earning more shots on goal than its opposition, but registering a woeful 2.8 to go into three-quarter time 13 points in arrears.

Jackas players dropped their heads after Camberwell slotted the first major of the term and was outgunned again, going down by 32 points.

The reserves beat Old Camberwell 16.12 (108) to 11.10 (76), while the Under-19s edged Collegians 12.13 (85) to 9.11 (65).

Ajax plays Beaumaris on Saturday at 2pm.

Gary Smorgon Oval  (Melways: J7 57)

ASHLEY SHENKER