NEWCASTLE HERALD
By Renee Valentine
SPEARHEADING your home-town team in the country's showpiece match that is what dreams are made of.
Thirty years after Newcastle debuted in the national soccer league, the Jets have secured the city's first grand final appearance, and the enormity of the occasion has not been lost on Novocastrian Stuart Musialik.
"I've played in some big games with the Olyroos, but this will be the best of them all," Musialik said.
"Playing for my home town in their first grand final . . . it would be massive for us to win it."
Musialik said it was easy to get caught up in the euphoria of the historic moment but has spent the week making sure the occasion does not get the better of him.
"It is one of those things you want to soak it up because you don't know if it's ever going to happen again in your career," Musialik said. "But, if you do get caught up in it, then it can ruin the occasion for you, so you have to find the right balance. I'm sure together as a group we can do that."
Musialik is one of five local lads in the Jets squad, along with fellow midfielder Jobe Wheelhouse, reserve goalkeeper Ben Kennedy, striker Jason Hoffman and 16-year-old Ben Kantarovski, who is yet to make his A-League debut.
Musialik is the Jets main link man and is the only one of the home-grown heroes certain to play against Central Coast tomorrow.
Kennedy will be on the bench, and Wheelhouse or Hoffman are chances to find themselves alongside him, but both have had limited park time of late.
Wheelhouse has made 12 appearances for Newcastle this season but has not played since the Jets' 1-0 loss to Sydney in round 16.
But the former Young Socceroo remains hopeful of playing tomorrow.
"Brett Cowburn and big [Michael] Boogaard played for KB United, and I was pretty close to them growing up, so it's a pretty big thing for a Newcastle boy and for all the lads from Newcastle," Wheelhouse said.
"It's been a bit hard for me because I haven't been involved for the past couple of months, but the team has been doing really well, and I think everyone is just excited.
"I'm still pushing for a gig on Sunday and hoping to be in the squad, but if not, then so be it. Everyone in the club is just hoping for a good result."
Article source: http://theherald.yourguide.com.au/news/sport/soccer/musialik-leading-local-charge-in-dream-shot/1188645.html
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