Matt Simon is not only one of the greatest players in A-League history, he’s also the player most likely to lead the Central Coast Mariners to a fairytale run to this season’s finals.
In the same week Cameron Smith belatedly retired from the NRL, it says much about our football discourse that Simon remains one of the A-League’s most misunderstood players.
Smith, the hooker who looked like an accountant and played like a fennec fox, was a master of rugby league’s dark arts.
He also hated losing – something both he and Simon have in common.
But where Smith was lauded as one of the greatest to ever play in the NRL, few critics will bestow that sort of accolade on Simon.
Why? Because they don’t like how he plays.
The elbows. The verbals. The aggression. We saw it all from Smith as a Melbourne Storm player, but it’s Simon who cops the jeers when he gets physical on a football field.
(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
A key difference between the two is that Smith played on winning teams. Yet I doubt there’d be a single Mariners player who wouldn’t want Simon leading the line for his side.
The Wizard of Woy Woy played the full 90 minutes in Central Coast’s absorbing 2-2 draw with Perth Glory in rain-soaked Gosford, and it’s a good thing he did, because he won and converted the penalty to square things up at the death.
Perth didn’t think it was a penalty. There’s no denying they didn’t have many refereeing decisions go their way on the day.
But Luke Bodnar led with his hands as he tried to head the ball away from Simon, and it looked like a hefty clash of heads as the Mariners striker chested the ball into the air.
Did Simon make the most of the contact? Of course he did. Name a striker in world football who wouldn’t.
But as the 35-year-old stepped up to the spot, he faced a 39-year-old goalkeeper in Liam Reddy, who’s no stranger to Simon’s style.
Yet Simon did what he always does, which is to say he remained composed, didn’t overthink things and simply blasted the spot kick into the bottom right corner.
He’s now scored 62 A-League goals. Not a bad return for a striker many claim can’t play.
Yet Simon’s trademark hustle and bustle overshadowed what was another decent display from Alen Stajcic’s outfit thanks in no small part to excellent performances from Josh Nisbet in midfield and the wily Marco Urena up front.
Costa Rican international Urena has added another dimension to the Mariners’ game play, and he reacted with lightning-quick reflexes to lash home a rebound to open the scoring.
Perth deserve plenty of plaudits of their own for the manner of their fightback, with the always impressive Neil Kilkenny teeing up Bruno Fornaroli for the equaliser before Nick D’Agostino rifled home what looked like the winner.
This is a Glory side that seems more than capable of mounting a charge up the table over the second half of the season.
Just six points separate second-placed Adelaide United from the ninth-placed Glory, and the fact that so many teams are jostling for a top-six position is one of the reasons this season has proved so exciting.
Another is players like Alessandro Diamanti. The Western United playmaker is the yin to Simon’s yang, and the Italian came off the bench to fire over a cross for young striker Dylan Pierias to stoop and head home the winner in United’s 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar.
Fans pay good money to watch players like Diamanti.
But it could be a very different kind of player in Matt Simon who leads his Mariners side into the finals.
If he does, there’s no doubt he should be regarded as one of the greatest competitors to ever grace the A-League.
Grem
Roar Rookie
What he did was great. It was good theatre. Victory supporters then had every right to let him know they didn't like it but if they had no clever banter then they should have copped it. Stooping to racist comments is dumb and ignorant and true football followers should be better than that.
Grem
Roar Rookie
There's no place for racism and there's no place for any violence. It's just a game! We all support our teams but why do I need to hate The Wanderers or Victory? Passion for a team does not equate to racism or violence. I would love to see our A League set the example for all sporting codes because the A League is awesome.
Grem
Roar Rookie
The Mariners winning the comp. They're at the top of the ladder and playing some great football. I hope it continues - can the fairy tale happen? Could Mat Simon then retire and become the mayor of Gosford? Then we could get his statue.
Punter
Roar Rookie
JB re attendances. Have a look at fox sports website, it's all AFL, NRL & contact sports like MMA & Boxing. With a smattering of cricket & O/S sports like Basketball, tennis & football. Even the ABC website, very little on the A-League, they are promoting women's sport & the AFLW gets a very good run, for something that has little interest, but then they do cover our women's players in Europe, but nothing on the W-League. So you can see the media attention is not that great in the A-League or W-league.
Tigertown
Guest
I’d say some very big media types have a controlling interest in the Storm, thus pushing for the NRL to be successful in Melbourne. Conversely, some of the former Central Coast councillors have limited interest in the A-League, but that might change if the Mariner’s win the competition. The NRL is given the red carpet treatment in Gosford, sadly not football. If you’re a local citizen and your member of parliament doesn’t follow the Mariners, then vote ‘em out.
A League is Awesome
Guest
His stint at City was average to okay. Guys like Mooy or Brilliante had way more of an impact.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
Mauk is one of the best midfielders in this competition, he always has been and always will be. He gets goals, assists, fouls against him, travels all over the pitch etc. He had a bad time in brisbane due to the style they were playing
A League is Awesome
Guest
That's a fair point. The fan's reactions are their own and they should be responsible for their reaction just like a player is responsible for their actions on the pitch under the laws of the game. Maybe the laws of the game should look into banning taunting of crowds so this sort of situation is prevented in the future for all parties. No fan needs to mess up their lives over a football match. There is no place for racism in football or in life.
A League is Awesome
Guest
There is definitely no place for racism in football. The taunting of fans is also not bright especially a rival team. All over the world, most teams know when to and not to celebrate and this should be a wider discussion in the management of a player's career as it doesn't help the player or the game of football or the fans.
A League is Awesome
Guest
If you follow in the foot steps of someone like McGregor than you become a polarising character. When you polarise a group, you will cop some flack. McGregor knows this and there are many people that don't like him. The wider discussion should be if taunts should be allowed and should they get a yellow or red card. You can't take of your shirt for celebrations any more so why should you be able to taunt a crowd. But he is a young guy and wants to prove he is a big man etc which happens to a lot of younger guys. It's not smart as I can't imagine he will be ever signed by Victory now and other clubs may shy away from this sort of behaviour.
A League is Awesome
Guest
Its awesome that he is celebrated for his contribution to the A League and the Mariners. If his goal records were much higher and he had more of an influential role on the style of play, he would probably would have higher accolades.
A League is Awesome
Guest
There are consequences to taunting a fired up social group. They shouldn't be racist but you can't honestly expect nothing back. A thousand years ago, if you taunt an army, there would be dire consequences regardless of nationality, skin colour etc.
Melange
Guest
"Jakobsen’s (and formerly, Isaias) been in this league for how many years now? how many cards did either player get over the course of thier tenure/s in the league? (i think Jakos only picked up 1 yellow card this year so far) compared to your oaf simon who’s already got several this season." From the Aleague stats website: Isaias - 50 bookings in 180 matches - a booking every 3.6 games (I was wrong, he's the worst of the lot, but should have had many more) my oaf Simon - 69 bookings in 309 matches - a booking every 4.47 games Jakobsen - 23 bookings in 118 matches - a booking every 5.13 games (as I said, a protected species). I note, and appreciate, that you didn't disagree with my assessment of Mauk.
Tigertown
Guest
Mauk is indeed a fine player, but he’s on-field exploits might start to overshadow his achievements. Dare I say his reputation as a diver will be hard to erase.
Melange
Guest
"Matt Simon is a throwback, he is playing the way he has always played" this is the reason for my statement. I wish he had always played the way he's playing this season. He's on another level to previous seasons. "Now comparing him to Bergkamp..." a little bit of semantics there. I did say some of his touches have been reminiscent of Bergkamp and I stand by that statement. Several times this year he has brought difficult passes with the ball coming over his shoulder, while under pressure of markers, under immediate control. So yes, on those occasions I was reminded of Bergkamp. Anything wrong with acknowledging any player at any level who produces that one moment of magic and comparing it to one of the greats? The difference is how consistently the greats can produce magic and make it look simple.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Melbourne Storm don't own AAMI either but Cameron Smith and Billy Slater (Queenslanders) are there. Hopefully the Mariners can get ownership of the ground and grow their club further.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
A lot of interesting comments. Matty S is definitely a club man and he is doing well up on the Central Coast. So i have no issue with him being that club man. However if we are considering him purely on ability and his suitability in the A League, I would suggest that any young player modeling their game purely on Matty S is unlikely to get picked up by any A League club, or top NPL side. I would hope all young players coming through to the A League have the same desire and dedication that Matty S shows us every week. Just one incident from the weekends game needs to be highlighted. Late in the Mariners game, in front of the coaches boxes, while taking a throwing, everyone could plainly see Matty S pushing back into the defender, as soon as he felt the player standing his ground, he tries to grab the boy, and throw him out the way. Then takes umbridge when a team mate stands up to him. IMO he was lucky not to get sent off for striking or attempting to strike. For all the good he does, he can be upset pretty easily.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
Celebration was harmless (it was an arrogant connor mcgregor or wwe vince mcmahon strut) Kissing the badge in front of that mob would be a lot worse I was at the match; he was racially abused! Reports were made to the police by supporters in the away end after that goal. (I know the different between someone coughing and an aminol chant) Besides that, we were threated when we get out the stadium by groups of victory fans (harmless banter they might say, but when someone says we’ll see you outside is it that harmless?) Most of us made our way out the stadium (under the watchful eye of police) after the players came over and then we got into waiting taxis or lifts and were on our merry way for the evening You don’t understand the rivalry between SA & Vic, how passionate it always is. In my younger days the brawls marching down manton street In Adelaide and being spat at and bottles thrown in Melbourne. Its sad that racial abuse has now come into it, especially with victory having a lot of African Australian players in their team
jbinnie
Guest
Mid - For the first time I am questioning the logic behind your statement. I never at any time compared the present CCM team with Arnolds eleven other than to hint Matt is what he is, and was, even back then. You then digress into another area altogether when you talk about finance and how it is being used both here and in Asia. Let us examine what is going on right now in the world of football. The A league has "lost" over 300,000 entry paying fans when compared to last year. These losses have of course been blamed on the virus and there is some truth in that but this week the opening 3 matches in Rugby league in Brisbane ,Newcastle, and Melbourne have attracted around 48,000fans, when football's top 3 attendances this week amounted to around 20,000. Virus???. To finish, you are enjoying this year's games, of course ,who are the league leaders?. Cheers jb.
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
you've made me take the bait, so lets do this. Jakobsen and Isaias dirty? ahahah i always find eastern staters views on other teams hilarious, because you're so far from the truth Jakobsen's (and formerly, Isaias) been in this league for how many years now? how many cards did either player get over the course of thier tenure/s in the league? (i think Jakos only picked up 1 yellow card this year so far) compared to your oaf simon who's already got several this season. You can think what you want about Mauk, but he is without a doubt the a leagues most in form midfielder with multiple goals and assists as well as being one of the most fouled players in the league.