The disaster that was the 2018-19 A-League campaign for Brisbane Roar was laid bare for Jack Hingert when he arrived at preseason training.
The experienced defender was greeted by a sea of unfamiliar faces in the changing room following a brutal overhaul of the playing squad under new coach Robbie Fowler.
With retired veterans Henrique and Matt McKay gone, Hingert suddenly found himself as one of the last remaining links to the Roar’s championship winning glory days.
It was a situation he admits shocked him.
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“It was very interesting day one of preseason walking in to the changing room and seeing so many new faces,” Hingert told AAP.
“It was a bit strange but it’s also been great. It’s very refreshing for us and the club.”
Hingert describes last season as the “toughest” he’s endured in his nine years with the Roar.
As well as on-field woes, a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament ended Hingert’s season in February and meant he was in rehab as ex-England international Fowler brought his new-look squad together.
“It’s probably been the toughest year of my career to be honest but I’ve just been lucky that I’ve had a great support staff around me with my partner, my family, my friends, my teammates and the club,” Hingert said.
“It is a bit frustrating because when a new coach and new players come in you want to show everyone what you can do and the kind of player and person you are.
“It’s been tough sitting on the sidelines and not being able to show what I can sort of do but I did have that experience with Robbie where I played with him at North Queensland Fury so we did already know each other previously.”
Having returned to full training, Hingert is out to show Fowler he can be a part of the Roar rebuild and erase the memories of a season he’s desperate to forget.
“Last year was probably the toughest season we’ve had but you do learn a lot from seasons like that. I only expect better from us this year.”