The new season of the Hyundai A-League looms large, with Hunter Stadium hosting the first clash of the Newcastle Jets’ 2016/17 campaign on Sunday.
The first game will see the Jets come up against Adelaide United, with the Reds beginning their bid to defend their titles from last season.
Although Adelaide United have lost a handful of the players that took them to the Hyundai A-League Premiership and Championship, they are still a very strong side and go into the game as favourites – according to the bookmakers – against Mark Jones’ men.
Ahead of the game, here are five facts you may not have known about the contest. Read up and impress your mates at the pub or in the stands before or during our clash with the Reds!
This is the first season from the last four that Mark Birighitti won’t start between the sticks for the Jets
For the last four years Mark Birighitti has been the familiar face standing in Newcastle’s goalmouth, but after 77 appearances for the Jets he has taken a move to Swansea City in the Premier League. With Ben Kennedy injured, Jack Duncan is set to feature in goals for Newcastle, with young custodian Pierce Clark, 18, promoted to the pine.|
138 players have come through the first team for the Newcastle Jets coming into this season
Devante Clut, Wayne Brown, Andrew Nabbout, Kristian Brymora, Ivan Vujica and Aleksandr Kokko are all in line to make their Hyundai A-League debuts for Newcastle Jets on Sunday. The next player to play for Newcastle will be the 139th person to feature for the Club in competitive matches.
Only two players have ever scored on their Newcastle Jets debut in Round 1
Although six players have scored on their Hyundai A-League debut for Newcastle Jets over past eleven seasons, only two players have actually managed to open their goal-scoring account in the very first round of the season. Those two players were Milos Trifunovic and Byun Sung-Hwan. New signings like Andrew Nabbout, Aleksandr Kokko, Devante Clut and Wayne Brown will be hoping to make the same impact as Trifunovic and Byun should they find themselves on the pitch on Sunday!
The Jets have scored 10 goals in their last six games at Hunter Stadium, but Adelaide United have kept Newcastle scoreless in their last five matches
Newcastle Jets managed to find the back of the net 10 times in their last six games at Hunter Stadium last season, the last goal of which came from the penalty spot via Mateo Poljak. But games against the Reds the Jets have found goals hard to come by of late, the South Australians keeping Newcastle scoreless in their last five meetings. With the Jets’ additions to the squad itching to prove themselves with a goal and Adelaide’s changes to their title-winning squad, the Reds may not be able to keep the Jets out like they have in the past.
The Jets are just 16,528 attendees away from cracking the 1,500,000 people in attendance mark across all Hyundai A-League seasons
With over 7,500 Members already signed up for the 2016/17 season, a healthy crowd is tipped to attend Sunday’s 5pm meeting between the Jets and Reds. The Club actually needs 16,528 people to come through the gates to crack 1.5 million attendees at Hunter Stadium. Can we crack the 1.5 million this week, or will it come the following Sunday when we host Brisbane Roar in round 2?
Newcastle Jets vs. Adelaide United – Hyundai A-League 2016/17 Season Round 1
Date: Sunday 9 October 2016
Venue: Hunter Stadium, Newcastle
Kick-off: 5pm
Tickets: Please click here to purchase match tickets
Television: The match will be broadcast LIVE on FOX SPORTS
Radio: The match will be called LIVE on ABC Newcastle
Social Media: Join the match conversation using #NEWvADL and #TogetherWeCanSoar
Â
