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‘Special’ story unfolding in Newcastle: ‘Full of potential’

Newcastle Jets’ historic season is showing no signs of slowing down amid their relentless charge towards promotion.

This season, leaders Newcastle are yet to taste defeat through 23 rounds in Football NSW League Two following Sunday’s 1-0 win over Sydney University.

Max Wettig‘s goal proved the difference as the Jets celebrated their 18th victory of the season, moving within five matches of an unbeaten campaign and promotion to Football NSW’s second tier.

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On top of Newcastle’s success in League Two, the Jets have also handed out scholarship deals to Ben van Dorssen (scholarship contract – 2025-26), Alex Nunes (scholarship contract – 2025-26) and Zac Bowling (scholarship contract).

“I think our team is full of potential for the A-League,” Jets head coach Damian Zane told aleagues.com.au. “It’s a very hard sell because everyone will say we’re in NPL3 and we knew we had to change that.

“It’s not easy up in Newcastle because a lot of players in that youth-age range, there is an NPL itself up here and they get money thrown at them. It’s quite easy at 18 to lose sight of the dream or feel that first grade will get you to the A-League.

“We’re trying to create a realisation that you’re in an A-Leagues academy, you’re only one step off and this is the best place to be. Put the money on hold, if you don’t get to the A-League, the NPL is another way of getting there. For too long I think up here, we’ve lost players for mine that should’ve stayed inside the academy.

“We’ve had to fight that. We feel if we can win promotion, we can get can to NPL2 which is more incentive to keep these kids for longer and a better competition again. Like I said, not every kid is going to make it at 16-17, some take a longer journey. Too often we’ve loft these kids.

“We’re a very young team, I think we may have one or two who are 20 this season. It feels right this season if we do go up, we’ve got players that can grow even further and hopefully we can add to those scholarships.”

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Janni Rafty is Newcastle’s leading goalscorer this season with 12 goals, but there has been an even spread among Xavier Bertoncello (11), Nunes (9) and Justin Vidic (9), who made his Isuzu UTE A-League debut last term.

Zane added: “We wanted to blood some younger players and give them an opportunity. Also, still give a chance to what’s consider slightly older players. It’s culminated in creating a really good culture before Christmas.

“It ended up with Ben Van Dorssen being selected in the Australia U20 squad that’s away currently (at ASEAN U19 Boys’ Championship). Ben also got a scholarship with Alex Nunes and hopefully there’s more to come.

“As a group, we’ve talked collectively about working together and being a tight unit. Putting the club-first mentality and it’s worked a treat. People are always going to take notice of teams winning so that’s important as well. We didn’t expect, I guess, the season we’ve had so far.”

It is an exciting time at McDonald Jones Stadium.

Not only are the Jets on track for promotion after Newcastle’s historic run to the 2023-24 Liberty A-League Semi-Finals, but there are new owners in the Hunter region – Maverick Sports Partners.

“That’s exactly what there is (a good energy in Newcastle),” said Zane.

“I was just away with Northern NNSW with the U16s and they finished third (at the National Youth Championships). One of the young boys (Wettig), came back home and came off the bench to score the winner on the weekend.

“We feel like we have real talent. We’ve always had talent in Newcastle. We’ve been crying out to get up to NPL2 and have been unlucky not to at certain times. It feels right. The age of the youth team and the depth of talent, it feels the right time to go up now.

“I feel this group of players will actually lift. We will grow and produce more players by going up a level.

“It is a good vibe. I only really noticed a couple of weeks ago that we were undefeated. To be undefeated shows a good mental resolve. You have to understand, for the first few months, we didn’t even know if we’d exist. I asked the players to just concentrate on football but it just shows the mental state of this group. We didn’t even know if the club would be around and they were still getting results.

“It shows a bit about; A – the type of player we breed in Newcastle and it shows a fair bit about this group and they are a touch special.”

In League One, leaders Bulls FC Academy were upstaged 3-0 by Inter Lions.

Meanwhile in NPLM NSW, Cher Deng scored for Central Coast Mariners in their 1-1 draw with Blacktown City.

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Sydney FC drew 0-0 against Sutherland Sharks, while St George City defeated Western Sydney Wanderers 5-0.

In NPLW NSW, Emerging Jets soared to a 6-2 rout of Football NSW Institute.

After conceding first, the Jets hit back through in-form star Josie Allan only for the visitors to hit the front again in the 19th minute.

Milan Hammond equalised for the Jets a minute later and the home side took control from that point.

Hammond netted her second of the match just after the hour mark to put the Jets ahead before Alexis Collins made it 4-2 with 18 minutes remaining.

Allan completed her brace in the 82nd minute, with substitute Zoe Daly also on target.

Sydney FC-bound Amber Luchtmeijer sensation and Golden Boot leader, meanwhile, scored in Bulls FC Academy’s 2-1 win at Illawarra Stingrays.

After Avaani Prakash‘s opener, Luchtmeijer scored her 18th goal of the campaign.

Another week, another hat-trick

Try and stop Luka Jovanovic if you can.

Not satisfied with a hat-trick last week, the Adelaide United forward bagged another treble for defending champions the Reds in NPLM SA over the weekend.

Jovanovic – an Australian youth international – scored three goals in the 4-0 rout of Adelaide City in Round 19.

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The 19-year-old, who is set to go head-to-head with new signing Archie Goodwin for Adelaide’s no.9 role in 2024-25, opened the scoring with a curled effort in the sixth minute.

Jovanovic then won and converted his own penalty 18 minutes from the end before Yaya Dukuly made it 3-0 two minutes later.

In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Jovanovic completed his hat-trick for Adelaide, who have won back-to-back matches and sit sixth in the standings.

Adelaide are known for their production line and Jovanovic is among the players to break through at Coopers Stadium, where the 19-year-old has scored seven A-Leagues goals since debuting in 2022-23.

Jovanovic has benefited from Carl Veart’s nurturing role in South Australia.

“If he spots something he thinks he should talk to you about, he definitely does,” Jovanovic said of his head coach to aleagues.com.au in December.

“He does check up on how you’re feeling and how your body is pulling up. Us as young players playing at a high level, it does take a toll on your body.”

Across Jovanovic’s seven A-Leagues goals, you would have noticed his celebration.

It’s inspired by a footballer he looked up to growing up – Serbia’s all-time leading scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic.

“He has that goalscoring trait that I think I have too,” Jovanovic said. “That’s what I base my celebration off. I did it after one NPL game last year and I just kept doing it.”

He added: “I like Mitrovic but I don’t think I have that play style he has. He is more of a stick it up and score with his head, and bring it down and finish quickly. I think I play a bit differently but I just like the way he plays and celebrates.”

In NPLM QLD, Ivan Ozzi bagged the equaliser in Brisbane Roar’s 1-1 draw with Rochedale Rovers.

Victory boost title chances with statement win

Melbourne Victory inched a step closer to the VPL1 title and promotion with a 4-1 triumph over in-form Langwarrin on Sunday afternoon.

Tommaso Minutoli set the tone with a ninth-minute opener before Adem Duratovic made it 2-0 via the penalty spot 13 minutes later as Langwarrin were reduced to 10 men.

After 10-man Langwarrin reduced the deficit, Kayne Razmovski restored Victory’s two-goal advantage nine minutes prior to half-time, while Marc Petheriotis capped the scoring six minutes from the end.

Victory are six points clear of Northcote City atop the VPL1 standings through 23 rounds.

“Learning how to win is part of the players’ development,” head coach Luciano Trani, who replaced Europe-bound Joe Palatsides, told Victory’s media.

“That winning culture can breed a confidence in the group. “If we get that, it’s going to add even more to each individual.”

“Learning to deal with the highs and the lows is part of that development journey for every player.”

Western United lost further ground in VPL1 following a 2-1 defeat at home to Brunswick City in a game which saw Isuzu UTE A-League player Michael Ruhs score for the hosts.

Western are fourth and eight points behind Victory.

Melbourne City did not play over the weekend.

Meanwhile in NPLW VIC, Calder United lost 5-1 at Preston Lions.

Kurea Okino, who played for Melbourne Victory last season, scored the winning goal as Boroondara-Carey Eagles edged South Melbourne 1-0.

In NPLM WA, Perth Glory went down 6-1 to Bayswater City. Santiago Flores scored for Perth.

Wellington Phoenix’s Central League team were not in action over the weekend.