A-League Grand Final: How Central Coast Mariners went from ‘Australia’s worst professional football team’ to climb to a domestic title
- Sailors prepare for the A-League Grand Final
- Melbourne City awaits you on Saturday from 7:45 p.m.
- Central Coast embraces its underdog status
For the first time in a decade, the Central Coast Mariners will make it to the A-League Grand Final on Saturday night – a feat that many of their loyal fans would have widely scoffed at a few years ago.
The A-League deciders in 2006, 2008 and 2011 set the tone early on, and in 2013 – on the fourth call – they finally broke their duck, beating Western Sydney Wanderers 2-0 under current manager of the Socceroos Graham Arnold in charge.
When Arnold left the club to play a role with Japanese side Vegalta Sendai, assistant Phil Moss took over – and it was the start of a worrying decline at Gosford.
For a club that has produced Socceroos such as Mat Ryan, Mile Jedinak, Tom Rogic and Garang Kuol, fortunes have fallen dramatically.
Four wooden spoons followed, a succession of coaches and were called ‘Australia’s worst professional football team’ by some sections of the media.
Central Coast Mariners are in the A-League Grand Final on Saturday night – a feat many of their fans would have laughed at a few years ago (pictured, coach Nick Montgomery)
The Mariners are a club that thrives as underdogs (pictured, striker Jason Cummings)
The resurgence began in 2019, starting with former Matildas boss Alen Stajcic at the helm, before Nick Montgomery took over in July 2021.
Club favorite ‘Monty’, who also netted 113 midfield appearances for the Central Coast between 2012 and 2017 before turning to coaching, stressed patience was key.
He was keen to use talent emerging from the club’s academy and look outside the place for elite footballers who would buy into the club’s culture.
Scottish-born striker Jason Cummings and this season the electric Brazilian Marco Tulio have come.
This season, the Mariners finished second to Melbourne City, a remarkable feat considering their shoestring budget compared to clubs like Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory.
Max Balard and Josh Nisbet were the unsung heroes in the middle of the park, with Vanuatu-born defender Brian Kaltak and veteran goalkeeper Danny Vukovic also impressing.
Melbourne City – this weekend’s grand final opponents who belong to the City Football Group – are shamed to attack the riches on their squad roster, led by Golden Boot winner Jamie Maclaren.
Fellow Socceroos Aiden O’Neill, Jordan Bos and Mat Leckie provide a touch of class, while youngster Marco Tilio can turn the tide of a game in an instant when running against bamboozled defenders.
Marco Tilio has been electric for Melbourne City all season – and will want to win even more silverware
Danny Vukovic lost an A-League Grand Final in 2008 with the Mariners – 15 years later he has the chance to redeem himself
It features a David vs. Goliath grand finale – and the Mariners enthusiastically embraced the underdog label.
CEO Shaun Mielekamp – who has previously made calls for the Mariners to pull back during troubled times – has been humbled by the backlash on NSW’s central coast over the past fortnight.
Always a club that has embraced its community, earning silverware for the fans is the plan.
“It’s not at all lost on us that Melbourne City have everything at their disposal,” Mielekamp said.
“But we’re going to give it our all, that’s the Mariners way.”
Kick-off at Sydney’s Commbank Stadium is at 7.45pm, with the game on Paramount+ and shown for free on Channel 10.
