After the 2011/12 season, the Central Coast Mariners had a number of key players leave the team for international teams, including their captain, top goal scorer and midfield dynamo.
The Mariners have successfully replaced these players with young star Tom Rogic and league-leading Danny McBreen for the 2012/13 season, as well as the club’s stalwart defensive midfielder John Hutchinson wearing the captain’s armband.
With the A-League season around halfway through and most Asian league seasons concluded, it seemed a pertinent time to catch up with the former Mariners (those who played with the team in 2011/12 season).
Ex-captain Alex Wilkinson left the club for Jeonbuk Motors FC (Korea) and has made 15 appearances, helping Jeonbuk to finish second in the K-League. Wilkinson’s stout defence aided Jeonbuk to finish with the third-fewest goals against in the league.
Mariners’ home-grown hero Matt Simon left the club for a three year contract with the Chunnam Dragons (Korea). Simon has struggled in new pastures, making only eight appearances without scoring. Chunnam finished 12th in the K-League.
The afro-dynamo Mustafa Amini, who was on loan to the Mariners for the 2011/12 season, returned to Bundesliga champions Borussia Dortmund (Germany) for 2012/13, and has appeared in seven games (out of 17 played) without scoring. Dortmund is current third in the Bundesliga.
Midfielder Rostyn Griffiths, whose brother Brent Griffiths currently plays for the Mariners, left for Guangzhou (China) where he has made 19 appearances with one goal. Guangzhou finished seventh in the league, after being recently promoted from the Chinese second division.
Striker John Sutton, who was loaned to the Mariners from Hearts (Scotland), returned to Hearts after the season and has made 11 appearances with four goals in the Scottish season. Hearts are currently ninth.
Michael Baird had a brief three game stint with the Mariners in 2011/12, then left to play for Sabah FA (Malaysia), where he has appeared in eight games and scored four times. Sabah finished second last in the Malaysian league.
Defender Bradley Porter, who finished the season with the Mariners, retired at age 25 in July 2012 from professional football after long-term injury problems.
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