Jets' player of the year reveals plans for next season

Stamatelopoulos collected three major gongs at the club awards on Tuesday night after a record-breaking season in which the striker netted 17 goals.

The 25-year-old has another year to run on his contract and has attracted interest from at least three English Championships outfits and two clubs in Italy.

"At the moment I am contracted here," Stamatelopoulos said. "If something comes up that the club is happy with and that I am happy with, we will see.

"At the moment I am contracted here and that is where my head is at. I am not going to any other A-League club. Me and my wife are settled here. We like it here. We like the coaching staff, we like the players, we are very happy.

"The back end of the season has proven that we can do more than compete. If we take the same momentum into next season, for sure we can do it."

In a roller coaster campaign in which coach Rob Stanton blooded a host of rookies, the Jets were unbeaten in four of the last five games, including wins over Sydney (3-1) and Brisbane (2-1).

"Finishing the season with the run we did, fills all of us with confidence going into next season," Stamatelopoulos said. "You can expect a lot from us.

"We had a very young squad and a lot of it came down to managing the game and experience. Now a lot of the boys have that under their belt, and we saw it towards the back end of the season. Hopefully we can bring that experience into next season and we can win from the start."

There was nothing but consistency from Stamatelopoulos.

He opened his goal-scoring account with a late equaliser against Perth in round one and had netted seven after eight rounds.

The longest run he went without scoring was four games from round 19 to 22.

He finished in style with three goals in the final four games to climb to 17 and eclipse the 16 goals Adam Taggart scored a decade ago.

"It's great to get the record and hopefully I can break it again next season," Stamatelopoulos said. "Confidence is a major part of it. I have always known that I could do it. If I play consistently and stay injury free, I back myself to do it again."

The next month is all about rest and preparing for the arrival of their baby boy in August.

"We have already started on the nursery. I have ticked a couple of boxes on that," Stamatelopoulos said. "We will go home [to Adelaide] and see the family. Reconnect. We haven't been able to do a lot of that this season."

***

I'm happy. All credit to my teammates and the coahcing staff. Without them I wouldn't be here.

OFF Field helped form/

My wife and little boy, who is on the way, definitely contributed a lot towards my success.

CAPTAIN arrmband

That is up to the coach. I just do my job every single day. I like to think that I set a good example. If that is what the future holds I would relish it.

RECORD for decade

It felt good. Maybe I had a bit of wishful thinking, hoping I might get four goals to maybe snag the [A-League] golden boot. It's great to get the record and hopefully I can break it again next season.

GOAL SETTING process

I set them before the season. When i reach that goal, i reset and try attain something that is achieveable. If i reach it again, it's the same rocess.

STRONG FINISH - taste of what to expect

Finishing the season with the run we did, fills all of us with a lot of confidence going into next season.

You can expect a lot from us.

HOW GROUP take the next step? not just compete but consistenty beating them

We had a a very young squad and a lot of it came down to managing the game and experience.

Now a lot of the boys have that under their belt, and we saw it towards the back end of the season. hopefully we can bring that experience into next season and we can win from the start.

SCORED 17 goals - interest from overseas, need another year in A-league

At the moment I am contracted here. If something comes up that the club is happy with, that I am happy with, we will see.

At the moment I am contracted here and that is where my head is at.

WHEN will come to a head - know by time son born?

I am not sure. I have no clue. I am keeping my mind on the off-season. I am taking a break from football a little bit.

NEXT two months - nursery

We have already started on the nursery. I have ticked a couple of boxes on that. I will go home [to Adelaide] and see the family. We haven't been able to do a lot of that this season.

We will get back to Adelaide and see everyone, grand parents, parents cousins and reconnect there.

IN TERMS of Football - point of season, confidence hit

I had a little patch towards the end of the season, where I went four games without scoring. It will happen.

It's great to get the record and hopefully I can break it again next season. Confidence is a major part of it.

I have always known that I could do it. I play consistently and stay injury free, I back myself to do it again next season.

CONFIDENCE this team can contend for a champion in next 2 years

I'm staying here.

I am not going to any other A-League club. Me and my wife are settled here. We like it here. We like the coaching staff, we like the players, we are very happy.

The back end of the season has proven that we can do it, if we take the same momentum into next season, for sure we can do it.