Newcastle Jets vice-captain Ljubo Milicevic said he welcomes the physical challenge of Perth Glory ahead of their Round 3 Hyundai A-League clash this Saturday at nib Stadium.
The Glory showed plenty of controlled aggression to upstage the Melbourne Victory 2-0 last start and Milicevic expects the same sort of attention from Perth this weekend. However, the 29-year-old defender believes his Newcastle side has the game to take it to West Australians.
“Dave Mitchell’s teams have always had talent in them, even if you think back to the Sydney United and Parra days, and they have always been physical as well – that is probably his style of coaching,” Milicevic said on Wednesday.
“And as long as it is in within the letter of the law who cares? It doesn’t matter. It is part of the game, it is a physical game. We just have to back each other up like we have done in the first two games and our dominance will transfer into results.”
“If they want to be physical it is up to guys like myself, Kasey (Wehrman), Nikolai (Topor-Stanley) and Bridgey (Michael Bridges) to lead the team to be just as physical. I think we have got the ability to do that.”
Jets head coach Branko Culina said he too was looking forward to meeting Perth this weekend and indicated that the Glory had more to offer than just aggressive physical play.
“I have read bits and pieces from some experts about the over aggression but if it is within the rule book then so be it,” he said.
“It is up to the referees to stamp out any sort of rough play.”
“(Last week) I just saw a very good Perth Glory side that played intelligently against another very good side in the Melbourne Victory and on the day, they were just better.”
Newcastle have looked good in their first two matches this season getting a draw away to Adelaide before a late own goal gifted Melbourne Heart a share of the points last start.
Form aside though, the Jets have a poor record in Perth and lost all three matches against the Glory last season.
Milicevic, who played for Perth in the NSL when he was a teenager, acknowledged the long away trip was difficult but was still talking up his side’s chances this weekend.
“Maybe it is the mentality you go in with,” he said of the adversities of playing in Perth. “The travelling – it is the longest trip for us.”
“When I used to play there, the home crowd really gets behind the team and really spur you on.”
“They are quite loud and quite parochial but life is too short for minor details, we have got to get out there and get stuck in.”
“I think we have got enough talent to make a mark on this league this year.”
