Change of scenery welcome for Jets
By JAMES GARDINER
Feb. 19, 2015, 10:30 p.m

HUTT Recreation Ground is 13.7kilometres from Westpac Stadium in Wellington.

With a good run, it should take about 13 minutes by car.

The 9000-capacity stadium is the temporary home of the Wellington Phoenix during the Cricket World Cup.

On Sunday, they host the embattled Jets, who will welcome the move from Westpac Stadium with open arms.

Twelve trips to the ‘‘Cake Tin’’ have produced nine losses, one draw and two wins.

Apart from Perth, where the Jets’ lone win was in 2005, Westpac Stadium is their biggest graveyard.

‘‘The wind inside the stadium, the whole set-up, is pretty daunting, especially for a young team who hasn’t been over there before,’’ said Scott Neville, who hopes to return at right back after missing the 1-1 draw with Wanderers.

‘‘You don’t know which way the wind goes and the crowd can get on your back.

‘‘It is good to be away from Wellington. Last year we played in Napier and it worked out pretty well for us. We drew 0-0 and should have won.’’
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The Jets tried a bold attacking approach in round three against the Phoenix in Wellington and paid the price.

Former Jet Nathan Burns scored a double as the home side romped to a 4-1 triumph.

‘‘We were far too expansive in that game,’’ Neville said.

‘‘The wingers and the fullbacks got caught way too high and as soon as we turned the ball over Burnsy, Krishna and McGlinchey countered.

‘‘Those three don’t track back in defence, so if you turn the ball over, it takes one pass and they are through on goal.’’

Since Mark Jones and Jim Pascoe joined the support staff, the Jets have adopted a conservative game plan.

‘‘First and foremost we have tried to stop conceding goals,’’ Neville said.

‘‘We need to create a few more chances going forward, but that will come in time.

‘‘You have to start from the back and work forward.

‘‘Jonesy and Jimmy bring a lot of discipline to the group and a direction in the way we are looking to move forward.

‘‘I think the younger players, especially, are really buying into it.’’

Neville, one of five players alongside Ben Kennedy, Jacob Pepper, Ben Kantarovski and Radovan Pavicevic contracted for next season, has tried to block out the recent turmoil engulfing the club, heightened this week with the delay in players’ wages.

‘‘As a player, you can only do what you can do – that is focus on the job,’’ Neville said.

‘‘There is no sugar-coating it. It has been a horrible situation.

‘‘Hopefully all that gets put to bed and the players can concentrate solely on performing and representing the Hunter region. The Hunter is such a good place to play football. At the moment it is not reflecting that.’’

http://www.theherald.com.au/story/28...r-jets/?cs=306
Neville