Returning to the Mariners on loan from Danish outfit AGF Aarhus at the beginning of the 2023/24 season, Jing Reec has well and truly found his footing back on the Coast.
Joining the Mariners Academy system from Marconi in 2021, it took the forward just one A-League match to secure himself a long-term European contract.
Fast forward a few years and the striker has been in strong form since returning to the Yellow and Navy on loan, scoring his first of the season in Round 5 against Newcastle.
Since then, Reec has posed a serious threat to defenders all over the league, scoring three more times in all competitions to extend his season tally to four.
This includes a clutch 89th minute equaliser against the then unbeaten Melbourne Victory in Unite Round, before scoring our opener against Phnom Penh Crown on Tuesday night in the AFC Cup.
Reec was ecstatic to have found the back of the net, helping the team progress to the Zonal final against Macarthur next week.
“As a striker, scoring goals is the best feeling in the world. To be able to score the opener last match and to help the team progress is great,” he said.
“Of course, all of the lads are happy with the result. Based on the previous game, a loss to Sydney FC, we brushed it off and immediately focused on the next match. To get the win in that game against Phnom Penh and to move onto the next round is really pleasing.”
Reec thanked the fans for their continued support this season, mentioning just how important they are to the team.
“The incredible thing about our fans is that they are with us no matter what. We started off the season in a disappointing way, but we bounced back from that and had that unbeaten run,” Reec said.
“The loss last weekend, we brush it off and get ready to go again.”
The team are ready to bounce back immediately in the league, as we come up against Western Sydney tomorrow afternoon at Our Paradise. Despite the away side missing four players and their coach due to suspension, the Mariners are in no way taking the Wanderers lightly.
Reec expecting a strong game of football, supported by the fact that both sides are currently sitting inside the top six.
“Everyone knows that Western Sydney are a very good side, but we are as well. The ladder positions of the two of us speak for themselves, it is going to be a very good game,” he said.
“Being at home and having our amazing fans there supporting us, we are ready to grab those three points. We have the same goals and focus for each game; we just go step by step. We go into every match looking to win, that is our mentality.”
Speaking on his development so far since his return to the Coast, the 20-year-old is pleased with his progression, thanking everyone at the club for their support and guidance so far.
Reec specifically mentioning Football manager Mark Jackson and Sporting Director Matt Simon, with the striker learning a lot in the past six months under the pair.
“The club, Mark and Simmo have all done so much for me, they’ve helped me not just in my game, but off the pitch as well. To have someone like Simmo who was a striker himself around helping me, I have already learnt so much off him,” he said.
“Even just the other lads in the change room, most of them are older than me so I am always grabbing advice off all of them. Doing this has helped me a lot. Going onto the pitch I don’t really feel pressure, I feel calm and collected, and when I do this, it helps me to play my best.”
