Can a local outperform an import?

Will Jess Vanstrattan be able to live up to the standard set by Danny Vukovic between the Mariners sticks?

So over the last couple of weeks the Mariners have had a few changes in personnel. In particular the Mariners have lost one of their adopted sons, Danny Vukovic and have gained a genuine local Jess Vanstrattan. So the question of course, can the local live up to the level of the import? Or will he be even better the man that has become a consistent sight in goal for the blue and yellow?

Now of course all the fans are worried about how Jess will go between the sticks this season and will we miss maybe one of the best defensive weapons the Mariners had. But Danny Vukovic was more than just a solid keeper for the Mariners and the fans, Danny was one of the favourite players and he was a well liked member of the Central Coast community. Vukovic would always be one of the first CCM players to thank the crowd or make his way over to speak with the supporters. Outside of the playing arena Danny was also always happy to speak to supporters and have his ear bent by an armchair expert.

Every Central Coast supporter I have spoken to thinks the return of the big V (I am just trying to see how many different nicknames I can come up with for Jess) is a positive thing. I think the local community is ready to really embrace another local footballer who has made it the highest league in Australia, especially one who has made a name for himself away from Australia and is now returning home to play. JV could become one of the real cult heroes of the Marinators, maybe even big enough to get them over the loss of Danny.

But Jess Vanstratten cannot take it for granted that the Coast supporters will immediately support him without question. Jess still needs to put in and work for and with the local community as Danny Vukovic did before him. As a bit of a precautionary tale you just need to look to the North for the experience of the Newcastle Knights in rugby league.

I grew up in Newcastle and I have seen what can be the difference between an adopted son of the local community and a real local celebrity. When you speak to any Novocastrian they will undoubtedly have some story about Newcastle's ‘greatest' local rugby league player and many of them may not be complimentary. Yet you speak to most about the best loved adopted son of Newcastle rugby league (Ben Kennedy) and you will struggle to find a bad word. I think this is just a local taking the local community support for granted. I would really hope that Jess V will not fall into this mistake and given his experience overseas and in the glitter strip last year with their fickle supporters I believe he will be much more worldly and mature then the afore mentioned Newcastle league ‘hero'.

Danny we the Mariners faithful will miss you and we all wish you good luck in your overseas ventures.

More importantly Jess we the Mariners fanatics really, really, really wish you luck and hope you have huge amounts of success in your return home.

Just remember to keep talking both to your team mates (they loved the abuse Vukovic dished out) and the Marinators behind the goal, even if they annoyingly keep asking you for a score update. Try and be nice to them, cause the lord knows I would tell them all to stop being lazy and look at the damn scoreboard for themselves.