You’d have got long odds at the start of the season on Central Coast Mariners coach Mark Jackson staring down the ladder at Tony Popovic and his struggling Melbourne Victory side.
There can’t be too many leagues around the world where the defending champions are predicted by many to finish in the bottom half of the standings the following season.
Yet the Mariners have been defying expectations for years.
After losing their first four league games of the campaign, plenty were keen to write off Jackson – the Englishman brought in to replace popular championship-winning coach Nick Montgomery.
But a 3-1 derby win over the Jets in Gosford – in a match that was originally supposed to be played in Newcastle – helped kick-start a 12-game unbeaten run in the league.
Now the Mariners are through to the inter-zone semi-finals of the AFC Cup after that dramatic 3-2 extra-time win over fellow Aussie combatants Macarthur in midweek – at times Jackson’s outfit look like they’ve been running on fumes – and they were deserving 1-0 winners over Victory at AAMI Park on Sunday afternoon.
They should have won 2-0, only for the diminutive Josh Nisbet to somehow botch a last-second effort when Jake Brimmer somehow got back to clear off the line of an open goal.
No matter. The Mariners were the better side as they finally ended their long AAMI Park hoodoo and moved to within to within three points of table-toppers Wellington Phoenix.
(Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)
But what on earth is going on at Melbourne Victory?
They’ve looked insipid under Popovic of late, with his side mustering just one shot on target in almost 100 minutes of football against the visitors.
Roderick Miranda fully deserved his sending off for two bookable offences, although how VAR came to the conclusion that substitute Jordi Valadon tripped Alou Kuol in the final minute of the game is anyone’s guess.
It’s not that Kuol – who also hit the post shortly after coming off the bench at half-time – didn’t appear to go flying under the challenge of Valadon.
It’s that from the camera angle we all saw on TV, it was impossible to tell who initiated contact – or whether Valadon even clipped Kuol at all.
VAR got it right a few minutes later when Mariners substitute Ronald Barcellos saw red for a reckless studs-up tackle barely two minutes after coming on, but the A-League Men is fast becoming a competition where VAR decisions are stealing all of the spotlight.
Which is the last thing the Australian Professional Leagues needs right now.
We all know the struggles of host broadcaster Paramount+ to put together a reliable streaming product.
Yet the network’s head Beverley McGarvey would be well within her rights to throw the book at the APL – an organisation that no doubt promised big crowds, marquee players, and a rusted-on TV audience.
The only thing the APL has managed to accomplish is decimate match-going attendances and somehow waste tens of millions of dollars in circumstances that are more than a little suspicious.
The football in the A-League Men this season is as entertaining as it has ever been.
But the competition has some serious structural problems.
Unplayable pitches, insufferable summer temperatures, risk-averse coaches – and that’s even before you get to the blight that is VAR on the game.
The competition has been too small for too long now, and the inherent desire of pretty much anyone who works in football to protect their job at all costs – even if it’s to the detriment of the league – has reduced interest to a smaller and smaller hardcore few.
Perhaps that’s why it’s refreshing to see a guy like Mark Jackson sticking it to the establishment.
Written off by many before his first month of competitive football was even up, the Englishman and his largely rebuilt Mariners side have been a breath of fresh air.
apaway
Roar Guru
Respectfully disagree. if picked in a midfield that includes larger players (such as Jackson Irvine), Nisbet would be a fantastic asset. He has shown this season that he is adept at the 8 or 10 role, and his box-to-box energy is a considerable asset. He has improved substantially in the last two seasons, and on the rare occasions that he does turn over possession, he usually wins it back or harasses his opponent into a mistake. His passing range is great (the through ball for Angel Torres' goal in the AFC Cup game against Macarthur was wonderful).
apaway
Roar Guru
Don't be too harsh on him. That miss ensured I won my head-to-head Fantasy League cup final, robbing my opponent of 10 points!
apaway
Roar Guru
You missed the ever-popular "Burning Hammers" Mixed Croquet team. They're a joy to watch.
apaway
Roar Guru
5 years ago, I wrote an article on this very site about the Mariners importance to the A League. https://www.theroar.com.au/2019/03/12/why-the-mariners-may-be-the-most-important-club-in-the-a-league/ Thankfully, they rode out the horrors of that terribly barren spell where many were calling for their axing, saying they were at best an NPL 2 standard side. they are now the example the other clubs should follow.
Harry Brill
Roar Rookie
I like Nisbet’s role at CCM and he’s a good quality player. But I think you’re right SS – the comparisons with the aforementioned world class players are actually taller than Nisbet by some 20 cm’s and most of them are employed in different positions/roles. The closest comparison I can think of is Marco Verratti who has played most of his career as a 6/8 and even he has 15 cm on Josh. That is not to say Josh can’t play for the national team, but there’s a tendency to overlook the physical demands at the highest level. For Arnold – or any national team manager – to gamble on an A League midfielder ahead of the European-based cohort we have, Josh will need to leave our shores and prove his form isn’t an A-League-ism.
chris1
Roar Rookie
FF I think it say's more about the type of audience that is still reading newspapers rather than anything else.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The same panel that cleared Ibusuki which was a clear red card. I have never seen this panel make a sensible decision in its entire history.
Garry
Roar Rookie
short answer "player uses or attempts to use" this can also be argued ie its THE important point .. if he made no contact perhaps that was deliberate so no contact no use no attempt to use either.. Torres is innocent until PROVEN guilty..nice try tho come back when you can clearly show Torres's intent. IF you can the Supreme Court awaits you.
Paul01
Roar Rookie
It does not matter if contact is made or not This is an extract from the IFAB Laws of the Game "Violent conduct is when a player uses or attempts to use excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball, or against a team-mate, team official, match official, spectator or any other person, regardless of whether contact is made." The important point is ...Regardless of whether contact is made". Torres should have been sent off
mrl
Roar Rookie
Ah…oversight on my behalf. Swimmers and Opals should slot in the middle there somewhere. I also overlooked both the men’s and women’s Frisbee teams, along with the mixed cornhole team….all should be ahead of the AFL International Rules team.
Grem
Roar Rookie
I too like the veteran men’s bowls teams – a lot of excitement when watching! I’m glad they made your top 10. International AFL is still way too high. Even the Australian Chess and Croquet teams would draw bigger crowds! The Australian men’s and women’s swimming teams would go OK, as too would the Opals.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
CCM won last year and no one complained. Now they are combination of Adelaide for the dirt and diving, and City for the refs. Adelaide this season on the other hand are one of the cleaner teams and the refs have done City no favours.
Garry
Roar Rookie
"Football Australia’s Independent Match Review Panel (MRP) dismissed Melbourne Victory’s Obvious Error Application submission made on behalf of Jordi Valadon who was issued a red card on Sunday. Valadon's one-match ban will be upheld."
mrl
Roar Rookie
Agree. Our most popular National teams: Matildas. Cricket Mens. Socceroos. Wallabies. Boomers. Cricket womens. Diamonds. Rugby sevens women. Hockeyroos. Kookaburras. Rugby sevens men. Veteran mens lawn bowls. AFL International Rules.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Vince Rugari is the only football man on mainstream media that I know of.
Football Fan
Roar Rookie
BTW, do we know who's replacing Michael Lynch at The Age or is nobody replacing him? It would be sad if there's no replacement because this means it would be yet another example of football journo numbers diminishing in the mainstream media.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Hey Midfielder, hope you enjoying this. From all the comments below, with CCM now successful & SFC mid table it's now the the CCM are the dirty team & the East coast bias favouring them with all the refs decisions. There is definitely a dislike for teams on the East Coast, with stunning beaches.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Loving everything the Mariners are doing, a great example for every club.
Punter
Roar Rookie
As i just wrote to Michael Lynch on X. PL is simple game 11 players v 11 players, they play 38 games & Man City wins the PL.
Garry
Roar Rookie
This is not the first time the stuff you say blatantly contradicts the replay ..ps read other posters comments who mainly agree with me.