Newcastle Jets vice-captain Joel Griffiths has called on the Club’s Members and supporters to travel to Gosford in big numbers for the Round 1 F3 Derby clash against the Central Coast Mariners.
Due to the maintenance work that is currently taking place at Hunter Stadium, the Jets first four matches of the Hyundai A-League 2014/15 season will be away from home.
Griffiths said Saturday’s opening round fixture is the best chance for Jets supporters to watch their team in action during the first month of the season.
The former Johnny Warren Medalist said large and vocal travelling contingent of Jets supporters could almost make the fixture like a home game for the Jets.
“We got four games away to start the season, so it’s very important to get our season off to a good start,” Griffiths said.
“That’s our intent, so hopefully we can as many Jets Members to travel down the F3 as possible, because they’re not going to see us a Hunter Stadium for a month.”
Griffiths said he and his teammates are full of excitement at the prospect of starting their 2014/15 campaign with an F3 Derby match.
“You start to get a little bit nervous going into the first round and I think all the boys are looking forward to it,” Griffiths said.
“It’s my 17th season as a professional, but I still get the butterflies for games like this.”
“I’m a bit more laid back these days, but once I get on that bus and head down the F3, I really start to switch on and focus about what I have to do and the rivalry and what it means to the people of Newcastle.”
Griffiths said that while the Jets’ pre-season preparations had not quite been as seamless as they would’ve liked, they would be leaving nothing in the tank come Saturday.
“We’ve had a lot of injures, we’ve got quite a few new faces and some makeshift midfielders who’ve come in and done a fantastic job.
“The main thing is that we make sure we put in and rip in and that’s what we’ll be aiming for.”
