Last season’s runners-up picked up their first point of the season at Coopers Stadium on Friday night, completing back-to-back away games to start their campaign.

The Jets broke the deadlock in 52nd minute through Venezuelan Ronald Vargas, but were left to settle for a point when Craig Goodwin’s bullet header squared the ledger on 63 minutes.

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Speaking post-match, Merrick said it was a fair outcome.

“I thought we were the better team in the first half,” he said. “We had more shots, we had more possession in the front half with some good key passes, but I think Adelaide evened it up pretty well in the second half.

“Overall, it was a very fair outcome for both teams but I’m sure (Adelaide coach) Marco (Kurz) doesn’t feel that way.”

The Reds had a penalty appeal waved away after George Blackwood suffered a broken shoulder in a collision with Jets goalkeeper Glen Moss in the closing stages of the match.

Merrick was just thankful that the VAR hadn’t done his team dirty again after last week’s controversial loss to Wellington Phoenix.

“I was just watching the referee’s left hand going to his ear and every time that happens we tend to get a penalty against us or some strange decision,” he said.

“So as soon as I saw that happening I (thought we were) in trouble. But the VAR didn’t get involved which was good.”

The former Victory coach has his work cut out in the opening six rounds of the campaign and must now negotiate two tough home matches before hitting the road again.

“I’m never satisfied, I’m always looking for three points, but in the first six games we’ve only got two at home against Victory and Sydney so we got a really lovely draw,” he said.

“I really appreciate it this year. We’ve got two home games now, Victory next and then Sydney and then we’ve got two more away games. How we can’t play home and away is beyond me but it’s obviously to do with the access to stadiums and that sort of thing.

“It’s a tough opening six games but to lose one and draw one, well at least we’re playing good football for at least half a game.”