Special Feature: One on One with Sutherland Sharks? ?Shire? Boy Simon Jaeger
The promising young custodian has been biding his time as the Sharks? second string keeper slowly clawing his way to the top, hopefully getting his chance to show his worth, but has been content developing and progressing under the watchful eye of Sharks goalkeeper coach Ron Tilsed.
Sharing a friendly rivalry with Sharks? number one keeper Nathan Denham, the 23-year-old is slowly chipping away in fine tuning his skills with the gloves.
Away from the round ball game, Jaeger has also invested some time working his magic behind the camera where he is currently starring in Channel 10?s Australian reality show ?The Shire?.
Football NSW Media Manager Mark Stavroulakis gets up close and personal with Jaeger on both his football and private life.
MS: How are you finding your season thus far with the Sutherland Sharks
SJ: I am no doubt enjoying my time with the Sharks. The lads are great, the facilities are world class and I think the way Robbie Stanton?s got us playing means that on our day we?ve got the best game in the league.
MS: But you?ve had limited game time, your thoughts?
SJ: Not playing First Grade week in week out is something that?s quite foreign to me. It?s obviously extremely frustrating, and in some ways it feels as if I?ve taken a step backwards from where I was the last few years.
However, on the other side of things, this situation has given me a lot more time to focus on fine tuning the minuet aspects of my game that needed attention.
I?m working harder than I ever have before, I am a better goalkeeper than I have ever been, and the time away from that number one spot has made me hungrier than ever ? The big dogs gotta eat!
MS: Your time at Blacktown City FC?
SJ: I loved my time at Blacktown City FC. Really good bunch of boys, and working under Mark Crittenden was great – he?s a very smart man.
Throughout the year I also had the pleasure of working with two of my greatest mentors in the football world – John Crawley and Jim Fraser. The amount I learnt from both men was significant, and it is now quite prevalent in my game today.
As a team we went through a lot last year, on and off the pitch, and what we experienced undoubtedly brought everyone of us closer. There will always be a bond there, and I will never forget my time at Blacktown.
MS: What prompted you to move from Blacktown City FC?
SJ: The big deciding factor for the move from Blacktown was my living and work situation. I live in Gymea Bay which is either an hour and ten minutes to Blacktown, or four minutes to Sutherland.
A lot of my commitments in 2012 (away from football) were to revolve around the ?Shire? area so it was a logical choice.
On top of that, as mentioned earlier on, the set up here at Sutherland is one of the best in the NSW Premier League. The environment is extremely professional, and the football philosophy that Robbie Stanton is engraining into this club from the top down was one that I had to be a part of.
Coming from a background of playing on the field, the style of football we play here at Sutherland suits me to a tee. So coming here, I knew that I could confidently do what is required with the ball at my feet, and it?s my belief that mastering this style of play (on top of my regular goalkeeping capabilities) will stand me in the best position possible to move on to the next level (Hyundai A-League).
MS: Nathan Denham, how is it training alongside him and do you feel as though he is Hyundai A-League material?
SJ: For sure, Nathan and I have the best rivalry in the league. We have a great deal of respect for each other, which makes us work even harder, in the fight for that top spot.
I believe we?re both extremely good sounding boards for each other?s improvement, and under goalkeeper coach Ron Tilsed we?ve both put in an enormous amount of work to ensure neither of us plateau with our progression.
I do believe that Nathan can take the next step to the Hyundai A-League. He is extremely professional on and off the pitch and I?m sure any club in Australia would benefit from having him as a part of their squad.
As to whether or not that happens, I have no say. All I can do is focus on my own career, and focus on carving out my own path towards Hyundai A-League selection.
MS: Thoughts on the Sharks team this season, Waratah Cup Champions but finding it tough in the NSW Premier League
SJ: When our team is performing to the best of our ability, I truly believe that we are unbeatable at this level, and that was evident throughout the results seen in the Waratah Cup.
The trouble is, throughout the NSW Premier League season we have at times, failed to find consistency with our performances and our current situation on the ladder is a direct result of that.
In saying that, it?s not over until it?s over.
MS: Away from football you can also be seen each and every Monday?s on Channel 10?s ?The Shire? how did that come about?
SJ: The Shire came about from a presenting gig I was doing at the time. Away from football I had already been working in the TV and Radio industry as a presenter for several years.
On this particular night I was hosting an event for MIX106.5 and Channel TEN, and the producers of the Shire were there. They got wind that I was from the area and approached me.
Coincidently a few of my good mates were already involved with the show, and as soon as I heard that, there was no looking back!
MS: Overall the shooting of the entire show, how did you view the experience?
SJ: Loved it! My storyline/life is pretty much all about keeping as active as possible and having a laugh with the lads.
So basically that?s just what we did. If we weren?t surfing, we were kicking the ball, throwing the footy, skydiving etc. And earn a crust from that sort of stuff – Unbelievable!
MS: Have you copped any flack or banter from your teammates regarding the show?
SJ: Of course – that?s standard!
But the boys are deep down, are actually really good about it. Most of the time they just want to know when the cameras are coming down to training so that they can fix their hair!
MS: What else does Simon Jaeger do in his spare time?
SJ: Not loads of spare time in my life at the moment – but if I ever get a spare second, it?s spent with family and friends just doing the stuff I love – Music, Travelling, Ocean, Sport, Fitness, Food, Laughs, Acting, Fashion, Art, Design, Dream Chasing, Cultures, Conversation- the list is never ending.
MS: Thanks Simon and no doubt when we can?t see you on the pitch at Seymour Shaw we will be seeing you on the screen on Channel 10.
SJ: Cheers Mark and thanks for the opportunity.
