VETERAN Jets goalkeeper Glen Moss refuses to accept that his illustrious soccer career is over.
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Moss announced in January that, at the age of 37, his 14th season in the A-League would be his last.
The decision by Football Federation Australia officials to suspend the competition because of the coronavirus is likely to mean that Moss's five-minute cameo as substitute in Monday's 2-1 win against Melbourne City - his 250th A-League game - will be his swansong appearance.
But the former New Zealand international is clinging to the belief that play will resume and that he can again clock on for at least one more shift defending Newcastle's goal.
"We definitely don't believe it's over at the moment," Moss said.
"We're athletes and so we're pretty focused on our jobs and what we've been doing for our lives, really. The season is just postponed, is the way we're looking at it."
Moss and his Jets teammates will continue training in isolation so that they are fit should they receive a clearance to return to the pitch.
"We've been given training programs, gym equipment, dietary requirements, and we stay in constant communication with the staff and the club, looking to resume hopefully at the end of April," he said.
Moss said he had not left home since Newcastle's game on Monday night, which was making it difficult to do any football-specific training. He joked that he might have to ask his six-year-old son to sharpen his reflexes in the backyard.
"He's got a pretty mean right foot on him," he said with a laugh. "Just as long as he doesn't kick any balls over the fence, I should be OK."
If A-League players were given the go-ahead to resume playing, Moss was confident it would not take them long to regain top nick.
"I don't think it would be too hard," he said. "You look at the stage of the season we're at, now it's just a case of ticking over.
"Whereas pre-season, you end the season and actually have a two- or three-week break where the only exercise is golf or surfing or recreational staff, and then you build from there.
"That's more building from the scratch, where this is more like having a small injury, where you have to stay off feet with a bike or a rower or gym exercise.
"So while the fitness levels should remain as good as they can be, it'll be just a matter of blowing out the cobwebs and passing a ball up against a fence, with a loved one, or with the children."
In the worst-case scenario, Moss said he would look back on his career as a dream come true.
Not only is he 15th on the A-League's all-time list of most appearances, after stints with New Zealand Knights, Wellington, Gold Coast, Melbourne Victory and the Jets, he also represented his nation 29 times.
"I'd made the decision with my family during the pre-season that I was going to retire, so from round one I've been playing every game like it's my last," he said.
"So I've made my peace with the football gods a long time ago ... I've been very fortunate with the career I've had.
"The memories, the friendships, the person I am today is because of football, so this coronavirus can't take anything away from that.
"When I left home as 16-year-old to play for Sydney Olympic in the old National Soccer League, if you told me that 20 years later I'd be winding up, I'd have laughed at you."