Gary van Egmond believes a nine-day turnaround has helped his side ahead of Sunday’s clash with Perth Glory at Hunter Stadium.
Hunter Ports Newcastle Jets head coach Gary van Egmond believes the nine-day break between Round 1 and Sunday-s opening home game against Perth Glory at Hunter Stadium has been beneficial for his side.
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Van Egmond said the long turnaround between the two fixtures had given the Jets ample time to get over the disappointment of their 2-0 loss to Sydney in Round 1, and regain focus ahead of Sunday-s clash with Perth.
“We-ve obviously had a big break between games with a nine-day turnaround,” van Egmond said.
“We-ve been able to get over a few bumps and bruises, reflect on last week-s game and build for this one, so overall it has been a good preparation.
“The boys are looking forward to being at home for the first game and making Hunter Stadium into a fortress this year.”
While van Egmond indicated there would be minimal changes to the Jets- personnel, he said may tinker with the way his players set-up in the final third.
“We-ve made a slight change in the way that we-ll set-up a little bit, but it was more so about the positivity in that front third,” van Egmond said.
“It not just about the attacking players, it-s about anyone who gets into that final third, whether it-s from a set piece, whether it-s from fullbacks overlapping or whatever it may be, we just need to have more energy and aggression in that area.
“We-ll definitely look to resolve that for this weekend.”
Van Egmond said there were a number of danger men for Perth that the Jets would have to watch closely.
“The two wide players in Nagai and Sciola are both very handy and very good one-on-one attackers,” van Egmond said.
“Obviously there-s McLaren and Edwards and Da Silva who can come off the bench. They-re young boys, but they-ve got a lot of talent.”
Following the bushfires that have devastated the Hunter region in recent days, van Egmond was hopeful a good result for the Jets on Sunday would help lift the spirits of the community in some way, shape or form.
“We need to win this week, there-s no doubt about that, especially with it being our first home game,” van Egmond said.
“Not only will it create more positivity around the Club, but around the area as well, so it-s very important that we get a win this week.”
Meanwhile, Kids on the Field returns this weekend, with junior Jets supporters allowed onto the Hunter Stadium turf following Sunday’s game against Perth.
Newcastle Jets v Perth Glory
Sunday, October 20
Hunter Stadium
Kick-off 3pm
Tickets available from PROticket
