Former Newcastle Jets coach Gary van Egmond says club is well placed for the future
GARY van Egmond is confident Newcastle Jets finally have the structures in place to deliver sustained success - win or lose on Saturday night - with the club “in a pretty good space.”
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GARY van Egmond is confident Newcastle Jets finally have the structures in place to deliver sustained success - win or lose on Saturday night - with the club “in a pretty good space.”
The only man to coach Newcastle to grand final glory - back in 2008 - never enjoyed the luxury of building on that triumph as his team was rapidly taken apart.
But 10 years on from that 1-0 triumph at the Sydney Football Stadium, and after numerous seasons of finals-free football, the Jets are back in the big dance – this time on their own turf.
The club, the fans and the Newcastle community is buzzing ahead of the clash with Melbourne Victory at McDonald Jones Stadium.
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Van Egmond, now the assistant coach of the Matildas after two spells in charge of the Jets and roles at the AIS and FootballNSW respectively, is excited about the prospects for the current side but also for the club’s future beyond the 2018 decider.
“Newcastle has never had what it has now,” he said. “Hopefully, the club is sustainable with a structure in place that gives you every chance.
“Now, you have an owner (Martin Lee) who clearly makes and is involved in decisions but you don’t hear much from. (CEO) Lawrie McKinna has done a fantastic job with bringing the club back to Newcastle, so to speak, getting people on board from the corporate sector to the grassroots.
“Ernie Merrick is a vastly experienced coach and you have (football operations manager) Joel Griffiths, who knows and understands the club so well (Griffiths claimed the Johnny Warren Medal and Golden Boot during the 2008 season as a Jets player).”
Van Egmond sees a club switched on in the planning ahead stakes, again, something not really evident after the triumph of 2008.
“I think I read the other day that a large number of players have been re-signed, which is great. It’s all a good formula for success,” he said.
Van Egmond accepts success will always see players in demand but for him, the destination is an indicator of where a club is at.
“After the 2008 final we saw players move on. I have no issue if it’s a move overseas to further your career, I’d welcome it, but to lose players to another A-League side or sides, as we did was disappointing. But hopefully the Newcastle Jets of today are in a stronger position to try and prevent it.”
Van Egmond expects a vocal crowd and home advantage to give the Jets the edge on Saturday night and he cannot wait.
“Obviously, the players and the coaching staff will do everything they can to make it happen but you’ve also got the supporters hungry for more success,” he said.
“Back in 2008 we talked about the 12th man – the supporters at the Sydney Football Stadium that day – and now they will have their part to play again, this time in Newcastle.”
Melbourne Victory – fresh from a dramatic last-gasp win over Sydney FC – stand in Newcastle’s way.
Kevin Muscat will be without two members of his coaching staff following ugly scenes in the win over Sydney and Newcastle have already come out on top twice in three meetings during the regular season.
“The Jets have a very good record against Melbourne Victory and if Newcastle can contain Victory’s front four and with being at home a massive advantage, yes, I’m confident,” van Egmond said.