THE curtain has fallen, the fat lady has sung and the door has closed on another Newcastle Jets season.
On the face of it, we've enjoyed an immensely successful campaign.
Fans of other outfits can say what they may, but when it's all done and dusted it was us who were still alive with just two weeks left to play, while six other clubs watched on.
Moreover, it was under duress that the side has performed in such a manner as to make us proud.
Shattered, at the moment, but ultimately proud.
Branko Culina took over with little time to mould the team, while there have been the usual trials and tribulations which come pre-packaged with every Newcastle Jets crusade.
The seemingly never ending Joel Griffiths saga, the Newcastle Knights catering 'dispute' (read: 'conspiracy'), Matt Thompson's disappointing departure, waning crowds, Vignaroli's injury, and at times general pessimism from local media have perhaps made this season - despite its inherent successes - one that won't live in the memory of many Jets fans at all.
Pity, there's been plenty of memorable moments, too.
Nevertheless, it's been a weird sensation following the Jets through the 2009/10 semi-final campaign.
For those of you who haven't been able to travel to either Gold Coast or Wellington, I'm sure you share the feeling.
The Knights, courtesy of the drugo's within their camp have somewhat unfairly - albeit unwantedly -stolen both the front and back pages of the paper when content should have been flowing about our club.
I don't think The Herald has covered us unfairly in recent weeks, but it's obvious who they're more concerned with when a couple of crims get coverage over a collection of champs.
Likewise, it's been made bizarre because just two seasons ago, Jets fans got to enjoy every finals match live and in 3D due to the four games in that series all being played in either Newcastle, Gosford or Sydney.
The seemingly smaller amount of mainstream coverage combined with a feeling of distance from the actual games got me thinking as to what sort of numbers would have been present in Sydney next week should we have made it through?
And I can't help but thinking the side will have woken this morning thinking of 'what could have been?'
Missed chances - perhaps due to the enormity of the occasion - eventually cost the team against a Wellington outfit who eventually deserved the result.
Yet, what a base and standard Branko has built for himself, and the players, themselves.
With the definite arrival of new personnel deployed around a base of emergent guns and regulars, what a team we could have when season six kicks off.
On that note, I'd like to express my thanks to anyone who has taken a glimpse of this blog throughout this season and send a bigger thankyou to anyone who has shot me feedback throughout 09/10, be it positive or negative.
And to Thommo, Hoff, Songa and Ange, as well as likely Ljubo and any other player heading away from the Hunter, I say 'Bravo'.
It's been another interesting campaign and I for one am extremely excited by the prospect of the next.
Next week I'll post my end of season ratings for each player and key management staff.
I'd love to read your protestations and perhaps agreements, but more so I look forward to seeing each of you continuing to support Australian football and the Jets when it all starts again in a few months time.
Until then, may Wellington win so we can say we were beaten by the eventual Champions, just like we were against Pohang in the Asian Champions League.
