CONGRATULATIONS to the 500 odd spectators who made the effort to get out to EnergyAustralia Stadium that wee bit earlier on Saturday afternoon. You saw some great action.
To the other five and a half thousand who, for whatever reason chose only to attend the big show, well, you know what to do next time.
Indeed, Newcastle Jets Youth showed some great signs on Saturday afternoon, beating Brisbane Roar Youth 3-2 in an attacking, entertaining, opening NYL fixture.
And, given the side won just three of 21 games last year to finish rock bottom of the competition, it seems putting on your hard hat and heading to the Turton Road construction site a few hours earlier this campaign will certainly provide some extra bang for your buck. Don't you owe it to yourself to make the most of your money in these uncertain financial times, anyway?
There are plenty of familiar faces involved with Jets Youth again this year. On Saturday, sometime A-League striker Jason Naidovski scored a clinical double whilst captain Taylor Regan (who hearsay has it courted interest from North Queensland Fury earlier this year), Jarrad Ross, Brodie Mooy, James Virgili, Fabian Iacovelli and Adrian Karakolevski - all from last year's squad - played.
But, coach Craig Deans has also flushed out the deadwood and replaced it with some timber.
On the day midfielder Damian Brosque, midfielder-cum-defender Scott Balderson and goalkeeper Robbie Kolak were probably the best examples of this.
Brosque, the younger brother of Sydney FC attacker Alex, played in the centre of the park, and was integral to the Jets' win. In fact, two of Brosque's inch perfect balls into the box, one from open play and one direct from the corner, resulted in the Jets taking a two goal led.
Balderson played in the heart of defence and put his name up in lights with a strong headed goal on his NYL debut. Having recently returned from a spell in the English Conference with Stevenage Borough, the former Young Socceroo with the big build looks destined for even bigger things.
Jets Youth have two new keepers this season in Kolak, and Saturday's substitute Dion Shaw. Former AIS keeper Kolak, despite conceding two, was impressive, whilst I stalked Shaw at halftime, noting his quality of distribution.
The prospect of a strong season by Newcastle's junior Jets is enhanced by the fact Jesse Pinto and Jon Griffiths are due to return from injury soon, whilst fresh faces Mirjam Pavlovic, Matt Sim and William "Juan Pablo" Angel will only get better with time.
It'd be extremely premature to predict anything of the team this year, but congratulations on the first up win, boys. Keep looking to play with verve and vigour, and hopefully a few more fans will fast track their foray to the field to follow your fortunes.
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You may have noticed the Jets donning black armbands on Saturday night and wondered who they were for. They were in fact for the family of a young Jets fan by the name of Daniel Neville, who passed away after a battle with cancer not long ago. Tarek Elrich and Ljubo Milicevic attended Daniel's funeral and the Jets as a whole paid their respect against Roar. Condolences to Daniel's family and friends who attended the match en mass on Saturday night.
