As Newcastle Jets fans race to secure their last minute memberships, Jets Central Defender, Nikolai Topor-Stanley has revealed the anxiousness within the team to get the ball on the pitch and the 2011/2012 season underway.
As Newcastle Jets fans race to secure their last minute memberships, Jets Central Defender, Nikolai Topor-Stanley has revealed the anxiousness within the team to get the ball on the pitch and the 2011/2012 season underway.
“This is by far the longest pre-season we-ve experienced, but we-ve used the extended preparation time to work hard and leave no stone unturned. Now we-re just ready and raring to go,” he said.
Despite some minor injuries to Marko Jesic and Jeremy Brockie, Topor-Stanley says the team is close to full strength and confident they-ll be a force to be reckoned with come game day this Saturday.
“Apart from a few niggling concerns which the boys seem to be healing well from, we-re basically a full strength side,” Topor-Stanley said.
Looking forward to Saturday-s game, the anticipation that the Newcastle Jets will meet their membership target is sending a buzz through the sheds with the notion that the bays of Ausgrid Stadium will fill closer to capacity than ever before to greet the Melbourne Heart this Saturday.
“Our crowds are always really good to us as players but we would love nothing more than to play in front of massive crowds, especially at home.”
“The build-up has been a long time coming and the challenge to play at home for the opening game is a massive bonus.”
Nikolai also makes reference to the ‘build up- that will see many of the Jets face off against former teammates, Matt Thompson and Jason Hoffman in Saturday-s season opener.
“Playing for three different clubs, you tend to run into old mates.”
“Matt was at Newcastle since the foundation of the A-League, leaving Newcastle for Melbourne in time for the 2010/2011 season. Jason-s a born and bred Novocastrian, who at the age of 21, is starting to get some regular game time up for his new side.”
“It-s been while between runs for us all. They are still highly regarded by the Jets boys and we can-t speak highly enough for them, but a win-s a win at the end of the day no matter who you-re playing,” he said.
As the days count down and the players finalise their preparations for an early onslaught, the Newcastle Jets confirm they-ve set their sights firmly on delivering a results-based season, starting with that continued winning formula against Melbourne Heart-s defence.
“We-ve got a pretty good record against Melbourne at home and we-re looking to continue that streak,” Topor-Stanley said.
“We took a lot of confidence out of the trial match against them and being at home we expect to win.”
“And we-re not only playing for a win – we-re out to play some entertaining football.”
