Hundreds of fans turned out to Ray Watt Oval at the University of Newcastle on Wednesday to see the Newcastle Jets train ahead of this weekend’s grand final clash against the Melbourne Victory.
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It’s been a long time between drinks for Jets fans – 10 years, in fact, since their last grand final victory against Central Coast in 2008.
Andy Roberts was at that game, wearing a Jets-gold blazer signed by the players. On Wednesday morning, he said the style had gone out of circulation a bit, and the fit was a little baggy, but it was good to have the colours back on for this weekend's game.
Jets fans have stood by their team through thick and thin. As Raymond Caves of Mayfield put it: it may have been a long time between drinks, but “you drink for the good times and for the better times”.
On Saturday at McDonald Jones Stadium, the Jets will have to create history by becoming the first Newcastle side to win a decider as favourites.
When TAB posted their odds for the season finale, Newcastle were listed at $1.75 and their opponents, Melbourne Victory, as $2.05 outsiders. That is in stark contrast to the Newcastle Knights in 1997 and 2001, when they were at long odds against both Manly and Parramatta respectively, and the Jets in 2008, when Central Coast were the popular pick to win the championship.
