Newcastle Jets defensive recruit Daniel Georgievski visited the city on Tuesday to get a feel for a Club and region he says he is both ‘excited’ and ‘grateful’ to be moving to.
Georgievski, who won the Joe Marston Medal for the player of the match in the 2017 Hyundai A-League Grand Final earlier this month, has now finalised his move from Melbourne to the Hunter.
The 29-year-old former Steaua Bucharest player took time out to speak to some of Newcastle’s press regarding his transition from AAMI Park to McDonald Jones Stadium on Tuesday afternoon.
“I am a Sydney boy and we came here [to Newcastle] for weekends when I was younger,” Georgievski said. “I had an understanding of the city but it’s totally changed – it’s a lively city, a nice place, so I am looking forward to it.”
“With the new coach [Ernie Merrick] and the new boys coming in I think everyone is going to bring their positivity. I am looking forward to the pre-season [and] I am hoping that I will be able to help out and we get far.”
“[Ernie Merrick] was at [Melbourne] Victory a few years before I got there. I have heard positive things and after it was announced everyone called me up and said ‘mate, you are going to have a very, very good time because he is a top coach’, so that’s another thing that I am looking forward to, that’s why I am so excited.”
“It’s a new challenge. I have been in big teams for the past five years or so and I think with that experience it will help me out and help the team out.”
“We can see what needs to be fixed for next year, and I am very grateful to be part of the process,” he said.
The Jets are scheduled to start pre-season training on Thursday 22 June, and Georgievski could line up for Merrick’s men as early as Saturday 8 July when the Club hosts four-time Chilean League Champions Audax Italiano in an international pre-season friendly at McDonald Jones Stadium.
“For us it’s [Jets v Audax] the first match for us to be as a team together,” Georgievski added. “There will be the Round of 32 for the Westfield FFA Cup coming up a few weeks after. It will be definitely be a good experience for us to work together.”
Jets v Audax Italiano tickets can be purchased here.
