Ben Kennedy, take a bow.

Last season, Ben Kennedy took a fair bit of criticism over a number of goalkeeping errors. Fans were less than forgiving, and TV football commentators are still telling us that the Jets can't fashion a finals football play with a weak defence and 'keeper.

But Ben Kennedy has come of age and deserves praise for a number of recent outstanding performances. He has really starting commanding the defence in front of him, which can't have been an easy task as a younger keeper, with players in front of him like Ljubo Milicevic who have high level experience in Europe.

A number of times against Melbourne, Kennedy saved the Jets with outstanding low diving saves. His save to keep Pondeljak's looping header out was well taken too. The Jets have a very strong defence with only five goals against this season - and Ben Kennedy is a big part of that. Melbourne might have felt they dominated good parts of this game but if they couldn't find a goal, it doesn't mean anything. We can just be thankful that Hernandez put his boots on the wrong feet.

The Jets came out with a nil-nil draw and it wasn't what they would have wanted. But given the circumstances of the past few weeks, they put up a grand fight and can feel justifiable encouraged. The opening exchanges were fast and furious, both teams trying to break into the goals early on.

Once again, Ruben Zadkovich was denied by woodwork from a cracking shot which had Petkovic beaten. This guy absolutely deserves a goal, and it will come soon, although not next game because he will be suspended for his fifth yellow card. It's just disappointing when John Curtis, GCU, has a crack from outside the box against us, it goes in, but Zadkovich's numerous efforts keep pinging off the woodwork. It just doesn't seem fair, but that's football.

The last 15 minutes were also played at a cracking pace and saw a number of fine chances to the Jets, the most memorable of which was the slide-rule through ball from Fiorentini to Tarek Elrich, which was millimetres away from Tarek's boot when Petkovic snatched it up.

Branko had a huge number of challenges going into the game, with players being away on Olyroos duty, others injured and the rest playing their third game in just over a week. To his credit, Branko threw players forward in an attacking 4-3-3 formation, with Werhman and Zadkovich ranging further forward in the attack.

At many times the Jets played with three at the back with Tarek or Ljubo moving up through midfield and into attack. It left open the possibility of vulnerability to one of Melbourne Victory's well-known counter-attacks, but with Archie Thompson still out injured, it was a risk worth taking and it worked, as the Jets kept another clean sheet.

Other notable contributions came from Sasho Petrovski, who showed that he still has some fuel left in the tank. He was at the point of some nice runs and fine through passes. I know it's not what Branko has been doing but I think Sasho would work very well in a front line linking up with Michael Bridges. The two of them have that ability to find those lovely defence-splitting passes.

Wehrman was again very solid defensively although some of his forward distribution was not as good as we have seen previously. Another who showed very good signs was the new recruit Fiorentini who we haven't seen much of yet. But his ability to maintain possession and find that sharp pass looked good.

Although the result at the end was a 0-0 draw, there was a huge sense of optimism around the ground on Saturday night. The crowd was up, and more vocal than we've seen recently, the Squadron was in fine voice, with a great tifo on display, and there is a generous new Novocastrian owner who seems to be willing to be put his money where his mouth is.

There are discussions about working on a better relationship with the Knights, which can only help with the stadium deal, there's the new owner saying he wants the club to be very community focused, and there's even talk about some possibility of obtaining a new attacker. It's all good except for the position on the table, and that hopefully, is temporary.

Branko Culina said the draw felt like a win and he was right. The Jets are a better team than suggested by the table. I might be putting my rose-coloured glasses on but it seems like there is a new air of optimism about the Jets right now, after weeks of very dark days. And that is very welcome.