Entries from February 2008 ↓

Melbourne boy Tom Pondeljak has signed a 2-year deal with the Melbourne Victory.

Pondeljak’s move from the Central Coast Mariners had been rumoured several weeks ago, but clearly the club and player were waiting till after the Grand Final to finalise any agreement.

While Pondeljak’s signing comes too late for him to be added to the preliminary squad list for the Asian Champions League, he could be drafted in as an injury replacement. Considering Grant Brebner’s persistent injury, this may be more likely than you’d think.

When I wrote about Pondeljak possibly signing a few weeks ago, most of you were quite sceptical. As I mentioned then, Pondeljak is a somewhat risky addition to the squad. Not only is he 32, he is also injury prone. But if he manages to avoid injury, I still think he could be a useful addition to the midfield.

Danny Vukovic’ last minute slap of the referee’s hand has inspired a rather hefty debate among A-League bloggers. The goalkeeper was handed a 15 month ban, 6 months of which is suspended.

Football in the Capital called Vukovic a “knob” for his actions; meanwhile, The Football Tragic and A Seat at the A-League both remind readers that the Newcastle Jets’ Joel Griffiths infamously punched a referee in the groin. Yet Griffiths was only handed a yellow card.

So now over to you: Is Danny Vukovic’ 15 month ban too harsh? Or is it not harsh enough?

Vote in the sidebar and leave your comments below.

It seems the A-League has caught the attention of Parliamentarians. Found this via the MVFC forum last week. Enjoy:)

Sharon Grierson MP

Federal Member for Newcastle

19 February 2008

PARLIAMENTARY ADJOURNMENT SPEECH

NEWCASTLE JETS & ENERGYAUSTRALIA STADIUM

Ms GRIERSON (Newcastle) (7.35 p.m.) – Mr Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your elevation to the speakership. I did have a previous opportunity but at the time, in question time, you were being so stern and there was such a profound silence in response that I did not like to spoil the moment. As much as I miss sharing a bench in this chamber with you, and I miss your wise counsel, sharp wit and great humour, I am so proud that it is being shared with the Australian public. The question time tragics in my electorate are telling me that they very much appreciate the new style of the new Speaker.

It is grand final time in the A-league and I am proud to inform the House that on Sunday evening the Newcastle Jets will play the Central Coast Mariners in the grand final. I notice that the member for Robertson, a rival in this, is here and I am sure she is supporting her team. While we have made the finals in each of the three years of the A-league competition, this is our very first grand final. Last year the member for Hindmarsh’s team knocked us out; I enjoyed very much watching that game with him in Adelaide. So in Newcastle we are abuzz with excitement. That we have reached this point is a tribute to the owner, Con Constantine; the club’s executive and staff; its coach, Gary van Egmond; and all of its wonderfully talented players, not to mention the dedicated fans. On the weekend, former Socceroo Craig Foster wrote that the Jets, along with Queensland Roar, were the best teams to watch this season – a fine tribute to our young squad, from a great of the Australian game.

The city of Newcastle has got right behind our Jets in the three years of its existence, and it is great that we now have two teams – the Jets and the Knights – competing at the highest level, in two national football codes and receiving such wonderful support. Like thousands of Novocastrians, I am looking forward to travelling to Sydney on Sunday to cheer them home. But also like many thousands of Novocastrians, I will miss the home-ground atmosphere. Like them, I was also very disappointed that, had we qualified first for the grand final, we would not have had the opportunity to host the grand final at our home ground – EnergyAustralia Stadium – because our stadium’s capacity, currently around 24,000, is just not sufficient for a grand final crowd. It is also not big enough to host Asian Cup or World Cup matches, which require 40,000 seats – competitions which Australia has indicated it may bid for in the near future. It would be a tragedy for our region if we were to miss out on those opportunities because our stadium still is not up to international standard.

I was first elected into this place in 2001, and I continually lobbied the former government for federal assistance to help upgrade our stadium. Ten thousand signatures on a petition were lodged, but not one cent was forthcoming for Newcastle. I am pleased to report to the House that the Rudd government is following through with its commitment at the last election to contribute $10 million to help create several thousand more seats at EAS.

We expect this funding to become available in April or May this year and I would be very surprised if it is not spent already. Adding to the state government’s recent funding, we are now moving forward after 10 years of neglect by the Howard government. I hear the member opposite saying ‘pork-barrelling’. I remember the former Treasurer’s team, the former Prime Minister’s team and the team of the former member for Lindsay, Jackie Kelly – and I remember quite a few announcements of stadium funding, but none for Newcastle. I will keep working with my colleagues in government, with the Hunter International Sports Centre Trust and with the community to make sure more funding becomes available to build the new western grandstand we would all so dearly love to see. In the past we have missed out on hosting Rugby World Cup matches. An economic study done by the local university shows that we have missed out on $130 million in economic activity that it is estimated a redeveloped stadium would bring in.

The city of Newcastle now boasts two codes and two top-ranking teams – the Jets and the Knights – using the stadium year round. I congratulate the Knights on their victory in the opening trial game for the 2008 season, and our Jets have qualified for the Asian Champions League in 2009. We really do want to be part of the Asian and World Cup bids in 2015 and 2018. I will be cheering the Jets home in Sydney on Sunday, and hoping the member for Robertson is not quite as happy as I am on the day, and I will keep working towards the day when we can cheer them home in a grand final at EnergyAustralia Stadium – and when we can cheer on the Socceroos in international matches held at EnergyAustralia Stadium.

The SPEAKER – I simply say to the honourable member for Newcastle that while the chair is supposed to be benevolent in most matters, within the A-league there is only one victory—a Melbourne Victory.

Source: Hansard

Central Coast Mariners 0, Newcastle Jets 1

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MNYLWew_juA[/youtube]

So Mark Bridge’s glittering goal has made the Newcastle Jets Australia’s A-League champions. A phenomenal goal, and in my opinion the Jets had the edge on the Mariners throughout the game.

But that last corner will hurt Mariners fans for a long time. Video replays show it as clear as day: Newcastle’s James Holland nudging the ball along with his hand. The Mariners should have received a penalty. But, in what was a bitter end to the season, referee Mark Shields didn’t see it – nor did his assistant. How many times has that happened this season?

And for Danny Vukovic, who apparently struck Shields, that fateful final minute could have a very detrimental impact on his career, with a one-year ban or life suspension not out of the question.

For a more complete analysis of the game, read The Football Tragic’s ode to the Grand Final, fittingly titled: Sorry End.

Daniel Piorkowski has not agreed to the contract offered him by the Melbourne Victory. He is set to move on once his contract expires in July.

The news was reported in The Age today, alongside a report about Milicevic leaving.

Piorkowski’s departure isn’t all that surprising, given his constant battle with injury over the past two season. According to Gary Cole, Piorkowski turned down the club’s contract offer “and that will be the end of it”. There is no mention of what the contract offer was, but it’s possible that the Victory offered Piorkowski a pay-cut.

It’s a shame to see Piorkowski go, but I think Melbourne has the players to cover his loss in defence. After all, the club had to do without him for most of the past two seasons.

The Gold Coast Galaxy appear likely to pursue Piorkowski.

Stefan Moore has gone back to England after a two-week trial with the Melbourne Victory. While he certainly made his case by scoring twice against the Whittlesea Zebras last week, the club has not yet decided whether to sign him. And it looks like they won’t make a decision until June.

According to the club, they want to trial several other foreign players before putting pen to paper. While this is definitely a much more thorough approach then last year’s “watch a DVD and sign him” method, it is also risky. Suffice it to say that Moore won’t be sitting around till June hoping that Melbourne decides to sign him.

Ljubo Milicevic and the Melbourne Victory have parted company.

It seems the defender and the club have agreed to “mutually terminate his contract”, which suggests to me that the Victory will not be required to pay out his contract – as would have been the case if they had fired him outright. Perhaps Milicevic has some other offers on the table.

Or maybe he just decided to end the charade. Milicevic appears to have been in the Victory’s bad books since well before the breakfast debacle in October. His injury provided a convenient front, but it was obvious to most Melbourne supporters that Ljubo had little to no hope of becoming a regular in the Melbourne side. It seems both parties were just biding their time, waiting for the day when they could amicably part company.

Gary Cole, adopting his usual line, wishes Ljubo “well for the future”.

The A-League is likely to become a 10-team competition next season, with the Gold Coast Galaxy and Townsville’s Northern Thunder set to join. The new clubs were officially approved by the FFA yesterday, though they are still required to meet certain financial criteria.

It’s good to see the FFA acting progressively to spread the A-League throughout Australia. It’s important for the competition itself to expand beyond the bare bones 8-team format of the first three seasons. New teams bring a new dynamic and a sense of excitement. And they prevent the A-League from becoming stale, something which can happen when teams playing the same narrow band of competitors over and over again.

Presumably, the expansion also promises a longer season, with six additional rounds to be played. Whether this means the A-League starts earlier or ends later, I’m sure fans will be pleased to have an extra month and a half of football to enjoy each year.

What do you think of the A-League expansion?

Source: Northern Expansion for A-League, The Age

Sebastian Ryall is joining the Olyroos as they prepare for the Beijing Olympics. He is one of 25 players picked by Graham Arnold for a training camp in Sydney, due to start tomorrow (Saturday).

Billy Celeski and Leigh Broxham are also both in the selection, but Nick Ward misses out because of ongoing injury.

Meanwhile, Ward looks likely to re-sign with Melbourne for an extra year. He said earlier this week that he’s leaning towards staying another year, news which will surely please many Victory fans.

So there’s a new Melbourne Victory outfit for the AFC Champions League, and it’s done away with the ‘V’. An ominous gesture if you’re into symbolism. But then, that ‘V’ has been a rather impotent symbol through the years.

To make up for the loss of the ‘V’, a gold strip has been brought in, designed to “symbolise the prestige of the competition.”