Opposing players just can't afford to fall asleep on him, he has too much experience and class.
That is coach Mitch Knight's take on Newcastle City Blues half-forward Jason Pongracic.
A former VFL player, Pongracic helped City win a Black Diamond Cup in his maiden AFL Hunter Central Coast campaign in 2024.
The Victorian had relocated to Newcastle, and his experience shone through that year as City claimed a second consecutive title.
But he was "poached" by Victorian team Hoppers Crossing last season and flew across the border each week to play footy, in a year when City fell just a few goals short of a three-peat, losing the 2025 grand final to long-time rivals Terrigal Avoca.
City were keen to woo him back, but nothing was certain. Prioritising the birth of his first child, Pongracic, in his 30s, took no part in Newcastle City's pre-season over summer.
"He was still living here last year but someone poached him," Knight said. "He was doing some fly-in, fly-out down in Melbourne, playing down there.
"He had a baby this year and wanted to just get back to just playing footy locally. With his experience around the group, and just that touch of class, he's been a big in."
Pongracic returned for City in round four, and has kicked 18 goals in six games. Five of them came in Saturday's 15.14 (104) to 8.3 (51) win over Terrigal Avoca at Hylton Moore Oval.
"He missed the pre-season ... but had a bit of a program he was working on in the background," Knight said. "He's been playing on the half-forward for us, and he's just a classy footballer. If you give him an opportunity, he'll either hurt you with the footy in finding someone, or hit the goal. If anyone falls asleep on him, and he finds the footy, he'll hurt you."
Whether Pongracic was the missing edge in last year's grand final is up for debate, but his return has coincided with City's improvement this season.
After nine games, they remain unbeaten and outright competition leaders.
They have beaten every other team, and Saturday's win was their second over the defending premiers this year, and about double the winning margin of the first. Indeed, City have now scored at least 100 points in each of their past six games.
"We had a massive pre-season, and looked at a few things from last year and areas we needed to improve on," Knight, who returned as coach this season after stepping down from the role following City's 2023 flag, said. "We've been consistently doing running blocks since the end of November and really trying to manage our load.
"Everyone is really fit and firing, we haven't had too many soft-tissue injuries and there's competition for spots, so it's just pushing everyone harder to get better.
"And you lose a grand final ... it always gives you a bit of motivation to go one better. That's obviously the end goal, but there's a long way to go."
With an expanded top-six finals series announced last week, up from four, City are well placed to finish in the top two and secure a weekend off in the first week of the finals. After 10 rounds, and with eight remaining, Terrigal Avoca (second) and Killarney Vale (third) still loom large with 7-2 records.
Nelson Bay (fourth) and Warners Bay (fifth) look on track to qualify for the finals, while Wyong Lakes (sixth), Cardiff (seventh) and Maitland (eighth) will likely fight it out for sixth spot.
On Saturday, Wyong 11.10 (76) notched their third win of the year and in their past four games beating Maitland 8.9 (57) at Don Small Oval. Zac Munz kicked 10 goals as Warners Bay 23.18 (156) posted their highest score this season on the road against last-placed The Entrance-Bateau Bay 5.5 (35). Killarney Vale 9.10 (64) held off Nelson Bay 8.11 (59) at Dick Burwell Oval.
