It finished 4-3 in soggy conditions but it is unlikely that many will remember Sunday’s game.
The 2008 A-League grand final was contested by the Central Coast Mariners and the Newcastle Jets, who at that time were undoubtedly the top two sides in the country as they finished first and second that year.
Given their proximity to either side of a motorway just north of Sydney, a natural rivalry was formed. With Newcastle stealing a victory on that day – as a result of a goal scored by an attacker pick-pocketing a defender and then a whole group of controversial moments that followed including the referee not awarding what the Mariners thought was a certain penalty in the dying moments – the natural rivalry became a bitter one.
The attendance that day was nearly 37,000.
The weekend’s match was attended by just over 4000 people, in its lowest attendance in 50-plus editions.
Granted the bad weather in the region had an effect and the two clubs are the smallest two clubs in terms of the cities they come from but whichever way you look at it, it was a disappointing turnout.
Looking at the previous meetings between these sides, there has rarely a dull game as there have only been three 0-0 scorelines in the history of this fixture. Moreover, more than five goals have been scored in three of the last seven games, including an 8-2 scoreline and the thrilling 3-2 comeback by the Mariners last March. Yesterday’s 4-3 win by the Jets made it four in eight games with a plethora of goals but this wasn’t enough to draw a decent crowd.
(AAP Image/Darren Pateman)
Despite these goals, the quality was poor, and it has been poor for the bulk of the last few seasons. Excluding the miracle season of 2017-18 – where the Jets played some of the best football the A-League has seen – the Jets have not made the finals in any other year during the last decade, finishing at the foot of the table twice, while the Mariners have finished in the bottom three every year since 2015, finishing last on three out of the last four occasions.
The weekend’s game displayed that there has not been much improvement. Three goals from poorly defended set pieces followed the Dimi Petratos opener. The fifth and seventh goals of the game were scored following comedy defending by both sides.
The Jets conceded at the very end of the game after giving the ball away in a situation where there was absolutely no danger while the Mariners had ample opportunity to clear the ball before Petratos scored his second of the day after Jack Clisby had lost the ball in a position a top-level defender shouldn’t.
For more fans to attend, they don’t just want goals, they want good goals scored after good football.
It’s fair to say that these two sides have the two smallest budgets in the A-League, but that doesn’t mean they cannot compete. Ideally what they need to do is foster some local pride and build a resilient team where the sum of their parts is bigger than the individuals. The Jets proved it could be done two years ago and you only have to look to other leagues where Atalanta, Freiburg and Sheffield United are punching above their weight and finishing ahead of disjointed financial giants.
The A-League is always better when these two teams are doing well, as for all the glory that the bigger clubs like Victory and Sydney have had, there is a provincial charm that goes with seeing these smaller clubs succeed.
The teams face off one more time this season in late March in Gosford and it’s very likely that the result will go a long way to deciding the wooden spoon.
But here’s hoping that when they face each other next season, the teams are playing for a bit more than to avoid finishing bottom.
Simon Kelly
Roar Pro
Hmmm, not sure how many A League games you have watched but the football Newcastle are playing at the moment is streets ahead of some previous seasons. The Stubbins tenure and GVE mk Two were abysmal. We've played well for many games this season but scoring goals has been a big problem. We've had a terrible run of injuries too. Kantarovski is the now the next added to that list, out for a month at least. I disagree that we'll be fighting it out with the Coasties in late March for the spoon. We're heading up the league now. They are terrible, and barring a miracle will retain the spoon. I honestly wouldn't swap our attack for any other in the A league. Now Roys back(he should have never left!) we'll win more than we'll lose. Yes I'm a one eyed supporter and proud of it.
Bendtner52
Roar Pro
I’m comparing Sheff Utds resources with Man Utd/Arsenal/Chelsea and saying proportionate to the difference between these clubs and the giants of the A league(Victory/Sydney etc). Meaning the team with the most money doesn’t always win (although it often does). But you’re right , two great groups of fans - I just think they deserve a bit more on the pitch.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
The last two weekends in NSW have been horrendous weather wise. We went from 40 odd degrees to mass flooding, trees down, powerlines down, trains not running and warnings from SES to stay indoors. I hate using weather as an excuse as it seems there is always a weather type reason quoted for people not turning up but the last two weekends have offered genuine reasons. If you combine that with the fact the two sides are at the foot of the table, you,usually,have a recipe for lowest attendances of the season and it doesn’t matter where you go in the world. Even Mr Guardiola was lamenting smaller crowds at city a few weeks back and look at the talent on display there every week irrespective of the fact they are not on top of the league. No doubt there is a lot of work to be done by many different parties to try and attract people through the gate but I’d excuse the last two rounds.
Bruz
Roar Rookie
Fair play to the Mariners fans, despite their teams poor form over recent years they regularly turn out in numbers in Newcastle. Sunday’s weather was unbelievable at some moments with authorities urging people to stay off motorways and main roads. So it’s hard to argue as to why there was such a poor attendance at Newcastle, I wouldn’t read too much into it. The “punching above their weight” comparison isn’t equal as teams such as Sheffield United are able to purchase marquee’s well over the million dollar mark, something the Jets and the Mariners would only dream of.
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
What are you on about ? I excuse incompetence, I think I’m one of the biggest critics of A league and Newcastle Jets incompetence.. I call it out every week. By criticising bad owners and coaches , I am again calling out incompetence. Re your ranting still from 3 years ago You are confusing so many things, I was definitely upset Nabbout was gone . He was the player of the season, but I’m not responsible, I’m a spectator who is powerless over transfers lol But in the end , the brilliance of Lawrence Thomas abd a dodgy var goal was the winner in the g f Your rants are hilarious, do you even enjoy sport or just look to rant at someone on the roar .
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
they had succes when they spent money recently? they got Nabbout for a song, and they played better when I presume their three highest paid players were injured. I pointed that in that seaon their record when the two foreign players played in the team record was atrocious and was worse with either in the team. You said Nabbout was no loss and the return of the foreign players would make the team better. so without those players that you didnt need it was a very cheap squad Excusing incompetence is the reason you always fail with this we haven't got the money excuse.
Bendtner52
Roar Pro
It will be interesting to see what direction McKinna and the new Welsh Coast can take the Jets in during the next two years. Carl Robinson comes from a league with a salary cap but not necessarily owners as tight as this lot!
Bendtner52
Roar Pro
Agree on that, the clubs have a responsibility to keep the teams competitive to entice more of these fans and the new younger fans in the area
Coastyboi
Guest
Lawrie McKinna had a lot to do with the early success of CCM. Granted, he’s now attached to the Jets. Both teams should be proud that each has won a grand final. Central Coast & Newcastle have proved their fans are the most committed in the A-League, even when the chips are down.
Kanggas2
Roar Rookie
The owner’s of these clubs over the past decade have been half the problem. The jets always do things on the cheap , coaches like pill stubbins mark jones were employed because they were cheap . Merrick has one season where he was given some spending money and the jets won 18 games. Unfortunately the jets and the A league are losing money , so these owners are not going to sustain the spending and the other issues have been retaining good young players. Brilliante Taggart Nabbout Magree .. we only had them for one season .. imagine if the jets could retain these players.