The Newcastle Jets’ road to success has been a glimmer of hope for Australian football in an otherwise lifeless campaign that failed to capture the heights of seasons gone.
Australian football’s progression in the last two years has been plagued by a combination of the Football Federation Australia’s indecision, lack of prominent marquee signings, and declining competition from teams seeing the product become stale and repetitive.
The impact has been widespread, with drops in attendance and sinking TV viewership indicating a loss of interest in the A-League.
But amidst the doom and gloom, a ray of sunshine has emerged out of the Hunter.
Newcastle, last year’s wooden spooners have undergone a seismic transformation to finish second and this weekend have the chance to cap off the turn-around by claiming the final in front of their home fans.
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After being starved of finals football for eight years, a mantra to attack the opposition at pace, with impressive results to match has captured the attention of the Newcastle community.
The switch in form has created a buzz among the town, with fans piling back through the gates, and the local media cultivating interest with the Newcastle Herald dedicating an eight-page spread last week.
The revival has been orchestrated by two Scotsmen who understand what it takes to have success in the A-League. CEO Lawrie Mckinna took the Mariners to the final on two occasions, while the reclusive Ernie Merrick led this week’s opponents to two championships.
the Jets’ success has also caught the eye the national team coach, with Dutchman Bert Van Marwijk rewarding the side’s encouraging form with debuts to Dimitri Petratos and Andrew Nabbout.
Over 19,000 fans were on deck last Friday to witness Riley McGree’s outrageous ‘scorpion kick’ catapult his side into the big dance.
No matter the outcome on Saturday night, Newcastle have been a beacon of hope for Australian football and show how expansive football led by the right people can bring a sense of pride for fans of the World Game in Australia.
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