1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:13,107 Speaker 1: from news Talk Zedbah. 3 00:00:13,347 --> 00:00:14,307 Speaker 2: Yeah, I'm pretty pleased. 4 00:00:14,347 --> 00:00:17,667 Speaker 3: The show finishes up three actually after three no chants 5 00:00:17,667 --> 00:00:21,427 Speaker 3: and here absolutely no chants and here at Tyler Street Sport. 6 00:00:21,947 --> 00:00:26,467 Speaker 3: The lafty hearing is Skysport commentator, former Phoenix goalkeeper, former 7 00:00:26,507 --> 00:00:28,107 Speaker 3: All Whites goalkeeper Jacob Spoonley. 8 00:00:29,027 --> 00:00:31,827 Speaker 2: A year ago, could you have imagine being here doing this? 9 00:00:32,827 --> 00:00:38,667 Speaker 4: No short answer, No, this has taken off and exploded, pony, 10 00:00:38,707 --> 00:00:41,907 Speaker 4: But I'm more interested. I've been texting you throughout the week, 11 00:00:41,947 --> 00:00:44,147 Speaker 4: you and our director Blair Dainty, who will be sitting 12 00:00:44,187 --> 00:00:47,067 Speaker 4: in the truck pointing cameras in the right direction this afternoon, 13 00:00:47,067 --> 00:00:48,907 Speaker 4: and we've been going around giving our fizz levels. 14 00:00:49,227 --> 00:00:50,387 Speaker 5: Where are you at right now? 15 00:00:50,427 --> 00:00:50,547 Speaker 2: Well? 16 00:00:50,587 --> 00:00:53,747 Speaker 3: What I went out twenty to three, so just over 17 00:00:53,827 --> 00:00:56,787 Speaker 3: three and a quarter hours away from kickoff? Pretty first, 18 00:00:57,227 --> 00:01:00,387 Speaker 3: Pretty first. You know, occasions like this don't come along 19 00:01:00,507 --> 00:01:03,907 Speaker 3: very often. And I think players talk about wanting to 20 00:01:04,107 --> 00:01:05,267 Speaker 3: play in the big games. 21 00:01:05,507 --> 00:01:06,827 Speaker 2: I think if you're in the meat, yeah you want 22 00:01:06,867 --> 00:01:07,987 Speaker 2: Pinnacle events as well done? 23 00:01:08,027 --> 00:01:08,067 Speaker 3: You? 24 00:01:08,187 --> 00:01:09,027 Speaker 2: I mean, how you feeling. 25 00:01:10,667 --> 00:01:12,347 Speaker 5: I'm nervous. 26 00:01:12,347 --> 00:01:13,587 Speaker 4: I'm the same as I was when I was playing, 27 00:01:13,587 --> 00:01:15,347 Speaker 4: so you wake up with that kind of anxiety. 28 00:01:16,307 --> 00:01:19,307 Speaker 5: I got to say, evening kickoffs are horrible for players. 29 00:01:19,307 --> 00:01:21,627 Speaker 4: You've got the whole day to phil, You're waiting for 30 00:01:21,667 --> 00:01:24,067 Speaker 4: the pre match meal and then you get the runway 31 00:01:24,107 --> 00:01:25,987 Speaker 4: are in about three hours in before kickoff, you got 32 00:01:26,027 --> 00:01:27,627 Speaker 4: your shower, you start getting ready and that's when the 33 00:01:27,627 --> 00:01:30,867 Speaker 4: process takes over. But before then you are looking for 34 00:01:30,987 --> 00:01:32,747 Speaker 4: something to do. And that's kind of how I feel 35 00:01:32,867 --> 00:01:35,987 Speaker 4: right now, Poney. Speaking of big moments, we had one 36 00:01:36,027 --> 00:01:38,587 Speaker 4: last year, ninety ninth minute oscars. I've arta puts the 37 00:01:38,947 --> 00:01:41,067 Speaker 4: ball in the back of the net. I've brought this 38 00:01:41,107 --> 00:01:43,907 Speaker 4: one up with you before I thought you left the room. Haha, 39 00:01:44,987 --> 00:01:47,507 Speaker 4: I thought you left the room, but you were at 40 00:01:47,507 --> 00:01:49,867 Speaker 4: the back composing yourself, and then you drop the three 41 00:01:49,907 --> 00:01:52,547 Speaker 4: greatest lines of commentary I have heard, Poney. 42 00:01:53,227 --> 00:01:54,387 Speaker 5: They were sublime. 43 00:01:54,507 --> 00:01:57,747 Speaker 4: Are you expecting a similar moment like that today or 44 00:01:58,267 --> 00:01:59,787 Speaker 4: is this going to play out in a bit more 45 00:01:59,787 --> 00:02:01,827 Speaker 4: of a consistent fashion with what we've seen so far? 46 00:02:01,947 --> 00:02:02,107 Speaker 3: Yeah? 47 00:02:02,147 --> 00:02:05,227 Speaker 2: Great question. The short answer is, I don't know. 48 00:02:06,387 --> 00:02:09,427 Speaker 3: Von Nill is a slim deer lead when you obviously 49 00:02:09,667 --> 00:02:12,387 Speaker 3: last week that it was only halftime when the final 50 00:02:12,427 --> 00:02:16,307 Speaker 3: whistle Blue in Melbourne. I don't know how this is 51 00:02:16,307 --> 00:02:17,707 Speaker 3: going to play out, but can I take you back 52 00:02:17,707 --> 00:02:19,467 Speaker 3: to what you were just talking about with the players. 53 00:02:19,467 --> 00:02:22,187 Speaker 3: So here we are now just over three hours out. 54 00:02:22,587 --> 00:02:24,947 Speaker 3: What do these three hours look like for a player? 55 00:02:25,907 --> 00:02:28,627 Speaker 3: You know, when do they get to the ground, when 56 00:02:28,667 --> 00:02:30,347 Speaker 3: do they eat all that sort of thing. 57 00:02:31,027 --> 00:02:33,347 Speaker 4: It depends on whether your home or away. So for Victory, 58 00:02:33,347 --> 00:02:34,747 Speaker 4: it's going to look very different. They're going to be 59 00:02:34,787 --> 00:02:37,867 Speaker 4: in the hotel and it adds to us versus the 60 00:02:37,867 --> 00:02:41,307 Speaker 4: world mentality. For them, it's them in their tracksuits. They're 61 00:02:41,347 --> 00:02:44,507 Speaker 4: surrounded by blue and black shirts which are unavoidable. Today 62 00:02:44,547 --> 00:02:47,627 Speaker 4: we went to West Coast Ranges this morning. Kids were 63 00:02:47,667 --> 00:02:50,467 Speaker 4: playing in the Auckland if SA shirts and not the 64 00:02:50,507 --> 00:02:53,987 Speaker 4: West Coast Ranges Cat's that's how it's changed over the 65 00:02:53,987 --> 00:02:57,547 Speaker 4: course of twelve months. So Victory, they're going to be galvanized. 66 00:02:57,587 --> 00:02:59,987 Speaker 4: They are going to be a fortified unit that will 67 00:02:59,987 --> 00:03:03,827 Speaker 4: step into Mount Smart today a very strong sense of 68 00:03:03,867 --> 00:03:05,747 Speaker 4: overcoming the deficit, changing chasing. 69 00:03:05,787 --> 00:03:07,547 Speaker 5: The result for Auckland's slightly different. 70 00:03:07,547 --> 00:03:09,627 Speaker 4: They're going to be at home, they'll be with their partners, 71 00:03:09,987 --> 00:03:12,187 Speaker 4: they might come together for a pre match meal. 72 00:03:12,187 --> 00:03:12,787 Speaker 5: At a hotel. 73 00:03:13,027 --> 00:03:16,827 Speaker 4: We've heard that the staff andiamo at the moment, but 74 00:03:17,067 --> 00:03:20,227 Speaker 4: from there it's then about listening to some music, getting 75 00:03:20,227 --> 00:03:22,387 Speaker 4: yourself into the moment. We've heard from some of the 76 00:03:22,387 --> 00:03:25,587 Speaker 4: all Whites recently that they do meditation, they look at 77 00:03:25,667 --> 00:03:28,227 Speaker 4: highlight reels to remind themselves of what they want to do. 78 00:03:28,267 --> 00:03:31,027 Speaker 4: There might be some clips that Doug Cause has put 79 00:03:31,067 --> 00:03:33,507 Speaker 4: together for the players just to tell them about the 80 00:03:33,507 --> 00:03:36,067 Speaker 4: big moments, to start getting them familiar with thought they're 81 00:03:36,107 --> 00:03:37,147 Speaker 4: going to experience on the field. 82 00:03:37,187 --> 00:03:39,267 Speaker 5: But at the end of the day pointing this is 83 00:03:39,307 --> 00:03:40,947 Speaker 5: not a familiar situation. This is new. 84 00:03:41,187 --> 00:03:43,267 Speaker 4: It's new business in Auckland, and it's going to be 85 00:03:43,307 --> 00:03:45,667 Speaker 4: new because I think this is going to be incredibly rouded. 86 00:03:45,707 --> 00:03:46,867 Speaker 5: I think this will be boisterous. 87 00:03:47,187 --> 00:03:50,267 Speaker 4: From when the players step out onto the field for 88 00:03:50,307 --> 00:03:53,547 Speaker 4: the warm up, so three hours in yep, cool, They've 89 00:03:53,547 --> 00:03:57,387 Speaker 4: got their routines, their protocols, whatever, They're still going to 90 00:03:57,387 --> 00:04:00,187 Speaker 4: need to be an adjustment and that's going to come 91 00:04:00,867 --> 00:04:03,547 Speaker 4: I think the warm up and then when they're in 92 00:04:03,587 --> 00:04:05,947 Speaker 4: the tunnel, and then the first five ten minutes. The 93 00:04:05,947 --> 00:04:09,507 Speaker 4: first five ten minutes are probably the most critical because 94 00:04:09,507 --> 00:04:10,827 Speaker 4: I think that's when victory you are going. 95 00:04:10,707 --> 00:04:12,947 Speaker 5: To have a real hard run at Auckland. 96 00:04:13,387 --> 00:04:15,787 Speaker 3: What about just before they leave the change of room 97 00:04:15,827 --> 00:04:20,107 Speaker 3: to get into the tunnel to walk out. Who is 98 00:04:20,147 --> 00:04:23,867 Speaker 3: the last voice? Is it Steve Coriker, is it Hiroki Sakai? 99 00:04:24,347 --> 00:04:28,067 Speaker 3: Is it somebody else who speaks last before they go 100 00:04:28,147 --> 00:04:28,747 Speaker 3: into battle? 101 00:04:29,347 --> 00:04:31,987 Speaker 4: Look, I don't know about Auckland. I can only comment 102 00:04:32,027 --> 00:04:34,547 Speaker 4: on the teams that I've been involved in. Typically, the 103 00:04:34,747 --> 00:04:39,027 Speaker 4: manager will have his last say in the team huddle, 104 00:04:39,147 --> 00:04:41,027 Speaker 4: so they'll come back in shim pads will go on, 105 00:04:41,227 --> 00:04:44,427 Speaker 4: goalkeepers will get changed into the kit, shirt goes on, 106 00:04:44,867 --> 00:04:45,827 Speaker 4: you've got your armor on. 107 00:04:46,747 --> 00:04:48,707 Speaker 5: That's when the manager might say something. It's going to 108 00:04:48,787 --> 00:04:49,507 Speaker 5: be short and sweet. 109 00:04:49,627 --> 00:04:52,787 Speaker 4: I think, knowing Steve, he'll realize that the work's been 110 00:04:52,787 --> 00:04:55,267 Speaker 4: done all throughout the week, the message has been the same. 111 00:04:55,347 --> 00:04:57,907 Speaker 4: This is about the final delivery of it. That's when 112 00:04:57,907 --> 00:05:00,387 Speaker 4: I think hierarchy, Saki and Tommy Smith take over, and 113 00:05:00,427 --> 00:05:01,587 Speaker 4: I can imagine Tommy Smith. 114 00:05:02,067 --> 00:05:03,347 Speaker 5: That's when he will hold court. 115 00:05:03,347 --> 00:05:06,787 Speaker 4: That's when he steps up and delivers a play message 116 00:05:07,307 --> 00:05:07,907 Speaker 4: two and on. 117 00:05:07,947 --> 00:05:10,147 Speaker 5: Behalf of the playing group with authority. 118 00:05:10,507 --> 00:05:12,867 Speaker 4: Now, once you step out into that tunnel, I don't 119 00:05:12,867 --> 00:05:14,787 Speaker 4: know what everyone else is, Like Paul Eifel, who joins 120 00:05:14,827 --> 00:05:17,747 Speaker 4: us in a couple of hours, might be different. For me, 121 00:05:17,907 --> 00:05:22,067 Speaker 4: that was purgetry because you're in between preparation and execution. 122 00:05:22,267 --> 00:05:24,507 Speaker 4: You can hear the noise, you're trying to push it away, 123 00:05:24,547 --> 00:05:27,947 Speaker 4: you can feel the lights. You just want to start, 124 00:05:28,187 --> 00:05:30,547 Speaker 4: and you've been held back from the thing that to 125 00:05:30,587 --> 00:05:33,947 Speaker 4: your point, you've waited perhaps all your life for to do. 126 00:05:35,267 --> 00:05:38,187 Speaker 2: Amazing. I'm getting goosebumps even thinking about it. 127 00:05:38,467 --> 00:05:43,227 Speaker 3: Any chance, Melbourne Victory smash and grab this and tonight 128 00:05:43,387 --> 00:05:46,067 Speaker 3: is Auckland, the FC's last game of the season. 129 00:05:46,547 --> 00:05:50,267 Speaker 4: I've got three situations that I've been discussing with you 130 00:05:50,347 --> 00:05:55,427 Speaker 4: all week. The first is that this is a wrestle. 131 00:05:55,587 --> 00:05:58,227 Speaker 4: This is the blue bloods up against the new money. 132 00:05:58,307 --> 00:06:02,147 Speaker 4: This is where we see the broad shoulders, the broad 133 00:06:02,267 --> 00:06:05,507 Speaker 4: navy blue shoulders of Melbourne Victory square out to Auckland's 134 00:06:05,547 --> 00:06:07,907 Speaker 4: and engage them to directly and we go down to 135 00:06:07,987 --> 00:06:10,067 Speaker 4: the last minute, the last second. We have no idea 136 00:06:10,147 --> 00:06:12,147 Speaker 4: where this is going to go. Who go any number 137 00:06:12,147 --> 00:06:13,827 Speaker 4: of which ways. It could be a shootout, it could 138 00:06:13,827 --> 00:06:18,427 Speaker 4: be a nil law. The second is Auckland simply suffocate 139 00:06:19,027 --> 00:06:21,667 Speaker 4: victory to the point that they are demoralized and it 140 00:06:21,707 --> 00:06:23,907 Speaker 4: becomes a two or a three kneel, it becomes a 141 00:06:23,947 --> 00:06:27,107 Speaker 4: procession in the second half the third This is the 142 00:06:27,107 --> 00:06:29,107 Speaker 4: one that you're touching on that our Auckland audience will 143 00:06:29,107 --> 00:06:31,827 Speaker 4: not want to hear, is that victory hit them hard 144 00:06:31,987 --> 00:06:34,187 Speaker 4: and early. They go full just inder oar dur and 145 00:06:34,187 --> 00:06:38,187 Speaker 4: they get an early goal and victory, as they have 146 00:06:38,307 --> 00:06:41,187 Speaker 4: done over the course of their nineteen wins in playoffs football. 147 00:06:41,227 --> 00:06:43,627 Speaker 4: Let's not forget the pedigree here. They follow up one 148 00:06:43,667 --> 00:06:46,507 Speaker 4: goal with another very very quickly, and that I think 149 00:06:46,587 --> 00:06:50,507 Speaker 4: is unnerving. It's unsettling because Auckland have been in control 150 00:06:50,667 --> 00:06:52,227 Speaker 4: for the course of the season from the get go. 151 00:06:52,507 --> 00:06:54,987 Speaker 5: They've asserted themselves, they've had a point of dominance. 152 00:06:55,587 --> 00:06:57,507 Speaker 4: This will put them on the back foot with a 153 00:06:57,667 --> 00:07:00,187 Speaker 4: huge crowd and massive expectations on their back. 154 00:07:00,227 --> 00:07:03,907 Speaker 5: That'll compound things. You'll need very strong leadership in that situation. 155 00:07:04,267 --> 00:07:07,587 Speaker 3: Well, let's finish with the crowd and those behind us 156 00:07:07,627 --> 00:07:11,387 Speaker 3: here at Tyler Street Sport. Just a cacophony of noise 157 00:07:11,467 --> 00:07:13,667 Speaker 3: now and this is just a small percentage of those 158 00:07:13,667 --> 00:07:16,507 Speaker 3: who are going to be there tonight. But how much 159 00:07:17,747 --> 00:07:23,147 Speaker 3: have Aukland FC's support base contributed to the narrative of 160 00:07:23,187 --> 00:07:23,987 Speaker 3: their first season. 161 00:07:25,147 --> 00:07:27,187 Speaker 4: They have been part of the identity of the club 162 00:07:27,307 --> 00:07:30,387 Speaker 4: and the Port have in large part become self defined. 163 00:07:30,427 --> 00:07:34,467 Speaker 4: They've been very clear about the narrative that they want 164 00:07:34,627 --> 00:07:35,427 Speaker 4: to be projected. 165 00:07:36,307 --> 00:07:38,347 Speaker 5: You can also point to their influence on the field. 166 00:07:38,387 --> 00:07:40,227 Speaker 4: Let's go back to round two, the first time that 167 00:07:40,267 --> 00:07:44,947 Speaker 4: Auckland came up against proper A League Royalty and Sydney 168 00:07:44,987 --> 00:07:46,987 Speaker 4: of Sea Steve Croker's old club. 169 00:07:47,147 --> 00:07:49,427 Speaker 5: Just to add the cherry on the top, there. 170 00:07:50,027 --> 00:07:52,907 Speaker 4: Var Interven's disallows a Sydney goal in the eighty fifth minute. 171 00:07:53,027 --> 00:07:54,747 Speaker 4: From there you could feel the energy in the state 172 00:07:54,787 --> 00:07:57,187 Speaker 4: and the Port created gravity and grabbed a hold of 173 00:07:57,227 --> 00:07:59,787 Speaker 4: the ball and sucked it over the line as Nando 174 00:07:59,907 --> 00:08:02,667 Speaker 4: Pineker put us on our way to the first goal 175 00:08:02,747 --> 00:08:05,947 Speaker 4: that Auckland's scored. Beyond the nineteen minutes, they then went 176 00:08:05,987 --> 00:08:07,907 Speaker 4: on the score or another thirteen over the course of 177 00:08:07,947 --> 00:08:11,347 Speaker 4: the season. I think that is started by the Port 178 00:08:11,427 --> 00:08:12,747 Speaker 4: in combination with the players. 179 00:08:12,747 --> 00:08:13,827 Speaker 5: You can't have one. 180 00:08:13,707 --> 00:08:16,107 Speaker 4: Without the other, and that speaks to the influence of 181 00:08:16,107 --> 00:08:17,387 Speaker 4: the Port of the course of the season. 182 00:08:19,067 --> 00:08:21,307 Speaker 3: What a night in prospect, all right, Jacob, Hope, you 183 00:08:21,307 --> 00:08:22,787 Speaker 3: e havenon used up all your good stuff in this 184 00:08:23,147 --> 00:08:24,987 Speaker 3: seven or eight minute chat. You've still got plenty of 185 00:08:25,307 --> 00:08:28,587 Speaker 3: plenty of lignes to regardless on the Sky coverage. 186 00:08:28,627 --> 00:08:32,787 Speaker 4: Later, mate, I only follow you set the furtherom you 187 00:08:32,907 --> 00:08:33,547 Speaker 4: set the pace. 188 00:08:33,667 --> 00:08:35,427 Speaker 5: Piney on your shoulders. 189 00:08:35,427 --> 00:08:37,787 Speaker 3: We said, oh, well, before this becomes too much of 190 00:08:37,787 --> 00:08:39,947 Speaker 3: a mutual admiration society, let's get. 191 00:08:39,787 --> 00:08:40,547 Speaker 5: Your mic going. 192 00:08:40,627 --> 00:08:42,667 Speaker 3: Let's get your mic off. Great to see you, mate. 193 00:08:42,707 --> 00:08:45,907 Speaker 3: Jacob Spoonley, skysport commentator, a former All Whites and Phoenix 194 00:08:45,947 --> 00:08:49,307 Speaker 3: goalkeeper and very shrewd analyst of the game and everything 195 00:08:49,307 --> 00:08:52,787 Speaker 3: wrapped around it, including the unique emotions of a day. 196 00:08:53,307 --> 00:08:57,147 Speaker 1: Like For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen 197 00:08:57,227 --> 00:09:00,467 Speaker 1: live to news Talk said B weekends from midday, or 198 00:09:00,547 --> 00:09:02,467 Speaker 1: follow the podcast on iHeartRadio