Newcastle Jets recruit Daniel Georgievski says he’s relishing the chance to work under new coach Ernie Merrick when pre-season gets underway next month.
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.
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The 29-year-old former Victory fullback 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.”
