Central Coast Mariners’ Champions League Elite campaign ends with another defeat

Central Coast Mariners coach Mark Jackson is “very proud” of his young team’s efforts despite a poor AFC Champions League Elite campaign.

Central Coast Mariners coach Mark Jackson says losing “big players” meant the club’s AFC Champions League Elite campaign was always going to prove difficult this season.

The Mariners – who last season won the A-League championship and premiership as well as the AFC Cup – completed their poor 2024-25 Champions League campaign with a 2-0 away loss to Japanese club Kawasaki Frontale on Tuesday night.

Jackson’s men lost seven of their eight Champions League Elite matches, securing just one point from a possible 24.

“We were successful last year, we had a strong team, but every year at our football club, we lose big players, and we are now competing in the Champions League, which is a very high-level competition, so although we’ve not got the results, there’s been a lot of learning and development for our young players,” Jackson said.

“You look at the level of the (Champions League Elite) competition, and you only have to look at the calibre of teams and players we’re coming up against, clubs with a lot bigger resources than our club – we have very young players in this team.

“Yes, we want to do better of course, but our players will learn and develop and take a lot from this campaign.”

Teenage midfielder Haine Eames was given the captain’s armband. Picture: Kenta Harada/Getty Images

With the Mariners already out of contention to reach the knockout stages before Tuesday’s game, Jackson opted to leave some of his experienced players at home to prepare for Saturday’s A-League game against Western Sydney Wanderers.

It led to a spirited performance.

“I’m very proud of my team, a very young team, and they pushed right until the end,” Jackson said.

“The result wasn’t what we wanted, but we gave a good game today and I’m very proud of the players.”

So young was the Mariners side that 16-year-old midfielder Haine Eames was given the captain’s armband for the closing stages of the match.

“We can be very proud of what we’ve achieved to get to this competition,” Jackson said.

The Mariners are four points outside the A-League’s top six but remain in contention to play finals football this season.

Originally published as Central Coast Mariners’ Champions League Elite campaign ends with another defeat