The Newcastle Jets and Melbourne Victory go head-to-head in the highly-anticipated Hyundai A-League 2017/18 Grand Final on Saturday night at McDonald Jones Stadium.
While the Jets are heading into just their second Hyundai A-League decider, Victory will play in their sixth and are looking to secure their fourth title.
With a sell-out crowd in the Hunter it will be a special occasion and amazing atmosphere, in what promises to be a blockbuster match-up.
The two sides have played three times this season, with the Jets holding the upperhand with two wins, both on home soil.
Round 8
Newcastle Jets 4 – 1 Melbourne Victory
Former players came back to haunt a 10-man Melbourne Victory as the Newcastle Jets ran riot in an eventful win at McDonald Jones Stadium.
Andrew Nabbout scored either side of half-time to help set up the come-from-behind victory.
Kosta Barbarouses opened the scoring for the visitors in just the fifth minute but another Victory old-boy Daniel Georgievski equalised inside the quarter-hour.
The contest swung in the home side’s favour with Mark Milligan’s red card just before the half-hour mark and Nabbout scoring his first goal shortly afterwards.
The Jets made their numerical advantage count in the second half with Joe Champness extending the margin before Nabbout completed his brace late in the contest.
Round 13
Melbourne Victory 2 – 1 Newcastle Jets
Melbourne Victory exacted a measure of revenge for their round eight defeat and notched their first home success of the season with a crucial win.
Kosta Barbarouses swept home the game’s first goal after 33 minutes with Jason Hoffman equalising on the stroke of half-time.
But Besart Berisha raced onto Leroy George’s first-time ball over the top early in the second half and thumped his finish inside Glen Moss’ near post.
Mark Milligan spurned a chance to put the result beyond doubt from the penalty spot after Ivan Vujica had bundled over Jason Geria in the box.
However, his failure to convert proved inconsequential as the home side did enough to snatch all three points.
Round 19
Newcastle Jets 2-0 Melbourne Victory
A dogged Jets side defeated Victory with skipper Nigel Boogaard and Riley McGree on target, but it was goalkeeper Jack Duncan who stole the show with a superb display.
The Jets skipper opened the scoring after half an hour, glancing home a header from a curling Dimi Petratos free-kick.
McGree made the points safe with his first goal in Newcastle colours, guiding home a Jason Hoffman cross with 20 minutes remaining.
Duncan made a number of eye-catching saves in each half to deny the visitors who lost their own goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas when he was stretchered off in the second half with a neck injury.
