Jackas raring to go

THE Ajax Football Club’s 2010 campaign will kick off at the weekend when it takes on long-time rival Ormond at Gary Smorgon Oval.

The team will take confidence into the start of the season, after two wins from three games in pre-season competition, including against Premier B (formerly B-grade) side Hampton Rovers, and Division 1 (formerly D-grade) side Werribee.

The season will open with the first President’s Lunch, which will honour the memory of club legend John Brustman, with wife Helen unveiling the John Brustman Memorabilia Cabinet in the Ajax clubrooms.

The club is also fortunate to have the support of many influential community members, and will announce the number-one ticket holder for the 2010 season at the function. In another new initiative, three new ambassadors will be appointed.

On the eve of the crucial round-one clash, coaching staff, players and administrators are confident the side has the right balance of youth and experience to be successful in 2010.

There are some notable outs however, with Jeremy Dukes out indefinitely as he recovers from knee surgery, and key players Jason Ritterman and Rubin Winograd set to miss the first half of the season after both had surgery to repair broken fibulas. But the club is set to welcome back the hard-running Eugune Routman, while the Jankie brothers, Corey and Marcus, will further bolster the midfield.

ASHLEY SHENKER