A-League: Third is best, says Ernie Merrick

Newcastle Jets coach Ernie Merrick has dismissed the notion Friday’s home grand final rematch is a revenge clash.

Jets coach Ernie Merrick wants a more open game against the Victory. Picture: AAP

Newcastle Jets coach Ernie Merrick has dismissed the notion Friday’s home grand final rematch with Melbourne Victory is a revenge clash and believes finishing third on the A-League ladder would be good for his club.

Victory defeated the Jets 1-0 in last season’s grand final in Newcastle. Neither side has made a great start this season with the Jets in eighth position on one point and Victory bottom with no points.

“Hopefully it will be a more open game than the last two, which really suits us, but we’re pretty keen to perform against Victory,” Merrick said. “It’s not a revenge game, it’s about taking three points in every match and getting into the finals and taking it from there — but I’m not big on this emotional revenge stuff.

“Any players who need any motivation because of a previous match then I feel as though they are not going to play their best football.”

Newcastle finished second on the ladder last season and had the first week of the finals off, but Merrick suggested coming third this time might actually be more beneficial.

“Personally, I’d love to finish third,” Merrick said. “If you finish third you get a home final, you don’t have to have a weekend off and lose all your momentum and you can go all the way through. I think the way the league is set up, third would be a good position for us. The top two teams, all they get is a weekend off and I don’t always think that’s a good thing.”

Merrick said defender John Koutroumbis and attacker Joseph Champness were both making good progress.

Koutroumbis has resumed training after undergoing surgery following a diagnosis of stage 1 thyroid cancer, while Champness is on his way back from a foot fracture he suffered in the pre-season.

“Johnny is recovering really well and the bone in Joey’s foot has fully healed now,” Merrick said.

Meanwhile, Western Sydney coach Markus Babbel insists he’ll learn to control his emotions better but won’t lose them after being suspended just two games into his A-League career.

Babbel will be in the stands for Saturday’s clash with Wellington after being sent from the sidelines for spraying match officials in last week’s loss to Sydney FC.

“This is the reason why I love this game, the game gives me emotions,” Babbel said yesterday.

AAP