THE NEWCASTLE HERALD
FAIRYTALES do come true!
In the traditions of the best make-believe of childhood dreams, the Jets overcame the loss of key personnel at the start of the year, a host of doubters, and the scariest of endings to triumph on the big day.
I spoke to ex-teammate and Fox Sports personality Andy Harper before I wrote this piece, to check I wasn't watching the game through one-eyed binoculars, and he reassured me my impressions were fairly accurate.
In an era of increasing corporate involvement, Harps described the day as a "fans grand final", and that it was.
The supporters of both clubs travelled together by bus, by rail and on the now-famous "F3", and the atmosphere was convivial, vibrant and wholeheartedly good-natured.
Given the controversial finish, I'm not too sure about relations on the return journey, and given my idyllic trip to Lidcombe Station took me on a 15-stop tour of "Sonny-Bill" territory in south-west Sydney, I'm in no position to report.
Having listened to my son Alex and his best mate Andy espouse their theories and dutifully wave Jets shirts and scarves at every Mariners-clad car on the trip down, I wisely sent them off to the other side of the stadium so I could watch in relative peace.
I don't know about any of you, but I had goose bumps when the Squadron unveiled their enormous banner and the roar threatened to take the roof with it. They returned as always at the conclusion of the national anthem.
Emotions were undoubtedly high in both dressing-rooms, and the question on everyone's lips was how would the all-important first 20 minutes pan out? Which of the two teams had the most appetite for the fight? Who wanted it more?
At this point I'd like to, with the utmost respect for those involved, relate to you a story which had a profound effect on the Newcastle dressing-room.
Once inside the rooms, the players and coaches are loath to have anything other than their own space, concentration and focus to deal with.
When Jets assistant coach Mark Jones was approached by a policeman to have a Jets shirt signed by all the players, his initial reaction was to refuse, but he inquired who it was for. When the officer explained that his brother, a mad Jets fan, had passed away the night before after complications with a long-term illness and his dying wish was to be buried in a Jets shirt, the story was relayed and the shirt duly signed.
I can't begin to imagine how powerful an emotion was running through the boys dressed in gold in that dressing room at that moment, but I have tears running down my face as I try to describe it for you.
With lumps in throats under control, muscles and tendons stretched, and formalities complete, we wondered would Newcastle fight the expected fire with fire?
After John Hutchinson clattered Joel Griffiths inside two seconds, we'd surely soon know. The answer, in fact, was that Newcastle extinguished the Central Coast's fire with a bit of science and composure.
Gary "Rafa" van Egmond changed his starting line-up for the 25th consecutive game this season, but more importantly, he changed his formation, and it allowed his side to dominate the first 25 minutes.
I'm not going to let the pretence of false modesty rob me of the chance to say "I told you so" in Saturday's paper, that I fancied van Egmond would employ Adam Griffiths and Jade North as markers at some stage in a revised three-man backline.
It made perfect sense defensively to cut off supply to the Mariners front men, but it also allowed Newcastle to make John Aloisi and Sasho Petrovski do a lot of energy-sapping "donkey work" as Newcastle patiently kept the ball.
Key to this tactic is having a deep-lying midfielder to bounce things off and who are always available to receive.
Stu Musialik is just that kind of player, and with Jedinak and Hutchinson unsure which of the two should go with him, and Kwasnik and Owens picking up the more advanced duo of Elrich and D'Apuzzo, the 30-plus front duo were being asked to do a lot of fruitless shuttle-running in temperatures in the mid-20s.
The Mariners decided to push Hutchinson onto Musialik and ask Jedinak to pick up Joel Griffiths, who van Egmond had deployed in "the hole" behind Mark Bridge operating as the target man.
That tactic asked the question of whether the Mariners were prepared to go one-on-one in central defence by pushing someone onto Griffiths, or whether Jedinak would get the assignment.
Question answered too risky to go man-for-man against Griffiths's pace and suddenly the Mariners had 40 metres between their central midfielders Jedinak and Hutchinson and were unable to exert concerted pressure on the ball.
Certainly the Mariners clawed their way back into the contest, but the tactical advantage obtained in the opening half hour was key to the overall results.
Jedinak's influence was reduced by his endeavours to track a very quick and fit J Griffiths all over the field surely a job only one man in the stadium, and he was wearing a patriotic gold suit, ex-Newcastle defender Andy Roberts, would have relished.
Griffiths may not have caught fire on Sunday, but his presence, and the way the coach used him, had a big impact on how the Mariners played.
Newcastle's back three were terrific. Mark Bridge playing in his best position was very good, as was the young Korean, Song, who produced more than a few glimpses of his class.
Again I call on the succinct words of a man with a very extensive vocabulary, Mr Andy Harper, to summarise: "Newcastle didn't have a bad player, the Mariners had a few who were below their best."
If you felt no empathy for Tony Vidmar in his last game, you can't be human. But he will get over it and realise that these things happen to players far better than the ones we see in our A-League.
In contrast, you can't help but wonder what effect a last-minute penalty might have had on the career of young James Holland had the final result then been different.
The Mariners have every right to think that on another day, they might have won a penalty and a last-minute reprieve.
In their heart of hearts though, I think they'll know they were out-thought and out-played, albeit narrowly.
And not surprisingly, for all the tactical subtleties we dissect, the winning goal came from a simple error, some predatory instincts, and a sublime opportunist finish.
Congratulations to Con Constantine, Gary van Egmond and all the Jets players and staff you've brought a smile and immense pride to the city.
A-League Champions, you bloody beauty!
Article source http://theherald.yourguide.com.au/news/sport/soccer/matter-of-life-and-death-players-ride-emotional-wave-to-deliver-aleague-dream-to-hunter-fans/1189864.html
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