Robbie Slater: Central Coast Mariners’ success proves A-League title was no fluke

Socceroos great Robbie Slater believes Central Coast Mariners have proved last year’s A-League title was no fluke after clinching the Premier’s Plate.

GOSFORD, AUSTRALIA - MAY 01: Christian Theoharous of the Mariners is tackled by Harry Van der Saag of Adelaide United during the A-League Men round 25 match between Central Coast Mariners and Adelaide United at Industree Group Stadium, on May 01, 2024, in Gosford, Australia. (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images) (Photo by Scott Gardiner/Getty Images)

Central Coast Mariners have proved last year’s A-League title was no fluke after clinching the Premier’s Plate.

Socceroos great Robbie Slater and Marco Monteverde give the Mariners their flowers, and dissect the latest in football.

Mighty Mariners

RS: Anyone who said that the Central Coast Mariners’ effort to win last season’s A-League title was a fluke should be eating their words.

The Mariners are on an amazing run and I think they’re in great shape to win the treble.

MM: Well, it’s so far so good for them after clinching the A-League premiership on Wednesday night.

Central Coast Mariners proved last year’s title win was no fluke after claiming the Premiers Plate. Picture: Getty Images

I’d argue that what they’ve already done this season is a greater achievement than what they did last season considering they have also juggled continental commitments by reaching the AFC Cup final.

RS: I’d agree. As a true football man, finishing first on the ladder means you’re the season’s best team, regardless of what happens in a four-week finals series.

MM: Definitely. The Mariners have been the best team this season, which is further proved by them qualifying for next season’s AFC Champions League Elite competition thanks to their first-place finish on the A-League ladder.

RS: Their coach Mark Jackson and his staff have done a remarkable job, particularly considering the Mariners are one of the A-League’s smaller clubs in terms of budget and resources.

Their model should be the blueprint for the host of other A-League teams.

What they’ve already done this season, regardless of what happens in the next few weeks, is what Australian football needed during a tough period for the sport at a domestic level.

Socceroos great Robbie Slater said Central Coast Mariners’ success was just what Australian football needed. Picture: Getty Images

Finals fever

MM: The Mariners are definitely the team to beat in the finals series, which kicks off this weekend with a couple of derbies that double as elimination games.

I’d love to see a full house at AAMI Park for the Melbourne Victory-Melbourne City battle.

A big crowd at Allianz Stadium would also be welcome at Saturday night’s Sydney FC-Macarthur FC clash.

RS: The Sky Blues will be hard to beat at home, but Macarthur got the better of them at Campbelltown Stadium only a couple of weeks ago, so it should be a good game. Macarthur will have to keep a close eye on Joe Lolley, but Sydney should be just as diligent with their plans to stop Ulises Davila.

Macarthur’s Ulises Davila will be a key player in the Bulls’ charge through the A-League finals. Picture: Getty Images

MM: And then on Sunday, two of the best strikers in A-League history, Jamie Maclaren and Bruno Fornaroli, go head-to-head in the Melbourne derby.

If City lose, it will be Maclaren’s last A-League game after his announcement that he was playing elsewhere, most likely the Indian Super League next season.

RS: I’m sure he’ll do well in India. A change of scenery will be good for him, and he’s sure to get more money there than he would have at Melbourne City had he stayed.

If Melbourne City falls in the Melbourne derby, it will be Jamie Maclaren’s last appearance in the A-League. Picture: Getty Images

He’s got every right to chase a bigger pay packet at this time in his career.

He’s done many years of fine service in the A-League, so he’s more than entitled to get a nice pay day.

And who knows? He might come back in a few years and finish his career in the A-League.

Dropped ball

MM: Melbourne City and Sydney FC will also be in action in Saturday’s A-League women’s grand final. Hats off to Sydney for reaching their seventh grand final in succession and their eight in nine years. It’s an amazing achievement.

Cortnee Vine (Sydney FC) under pressure from Melbourne City’s Rhianna Pollicina. Picture: Getty Images

RS: Yeah, it’ remarkable, but it’ll be a tough task for them to beat the premiers Melbourne City at AAMI Park.

MM: I don’t think Sydney will be fazed by the challenge.

RS: Nor should they be. Both teams deserve credit, as do all the other women’s A-League sides, for playing some decent football this season and attracting more people to games than last season.

It’s a very good achievement considering the way the APL dropped the ball in failing to make the most of the hype that surrounded female football following last year’s Women’s World Cup on home soil.

You can only wonder how many more fans would have attended games if the competition had been promoted, marketed and televised properly rather than be shabbily treated.

The APL did not capitalise on the incredible momentum built by the Matildas at the Women’s World Cup. Picture: Lachie Millard

Both the women’s and the men’s A-League competition have suffered because of the APL’s financial woes, which was the organisation’s own fault for wasting millions and millions of dollars.

And by the way, we’re still waiting for an independent audit of the APL’s finances.

MM: Unfortunately I think we’ll be waiting for a while, but we can only keep asking the question.

Let’s hope that it’s a women’s grand final to remember on Saturday.

Injury blow

RS: The Matildas suffered another injury blow this week when Amy Sayer ruptured the ACL in her knee playing for her Swedish club side Kristianstads.

It’s a terrible shame for the young striker.

Australia's Amy Sayer ruptured her ACL while playing for Swedish club Kristianstads. Picture: AFP

Yeah, it’s devastating for her.

While she wasn’t a certainty to make the Matildas’ 18-player squad for the Olympic Games, she was in selection contention, but that dream is over for her now.

Hopefully, she can bounce back and elevate her game to another level when she returns to the playing field next year.

Originally published as Robbie Slater: Central Coast Mariners’ success proves A-League title was no fluke