In most people’s eyes Jason is the best Qantas Socceroo to return to the Hyundai A-League in the competition’s short history. A top-class player at the highest level of the game, Jason is a midfielder who knows how to both create and score goals, highlighted by the 10 assists he contributed to Gold Coast’s cause last season (the highest total in the Hyundai A-League). At just 29-years-old, Jason is at the peak of his powers as Gold Coast’s marquee signing, setting high standards during training and driving the team on in its Hyundai A-League games. Arguably the fittest player in the competition, Jason plays the game at the highest intensity and tempo, making it difficult for opponents to stop his accurate long-distance passing and dangerous forward runs. Plucked from Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven, Jason has continued to be a key player for the Qantas Socceroos and captained the national team for the first time in the 1-0 win over Indonesia at Suncorp Stadium in March 2010. A virtual ever–present for the Socceroos since making his debut in early 2005, he started in four games at the 2006 World Cup finals and all four games at the 2007 Asian Cup finals. He is set to feature prominently yet again for the national team in the 2011 Asian Cup Finals after playing every match of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
2009/10 season: 26 appearances, 3 goals.