Welcome to Made With Mitre Moments, where aleagues.com.au delivers the key highlights from every round of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Continue reading for the most significant talking points from Round 22, thanks to Mitre.
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‘I gave him a little serve’ – Jets coach commends winger after ‘Premier League’ moment
Newcastle Jets manager Rob Stanton is convinced that Eli Adams’ exquisite goal against Auckland FC on Sunday truly showcased the winger’s potential.
Adams electrified McDonald Jones Stadium in the 12th minute by dribbling the ball from deep within his half and landing a brilliant low strike into the far corner, putting Newcastle in front.
However, the remarkable finish came only after the 22-year-old had been given a stern talking-to by his coach after a lacklustre start to the game.
MATCH REPORT: Auckland star shown RED as Jets secure a point thanks to stunning strike from winger
“He started a bit slowly, so I gave him a little serve,”
Rob Stanton on Eli Adams
“But that’s Eli for you. He’s got the kind of personality that sometimes just needs a little nudge, and he has the talent to follow it through. I think people might misinterpret his personality or body language, which could be why he hasn’t played more.
“For me, it’s about unlocking that potential consistently. What buttons do I push? How do I draw that out? It all comes down to how we design our training sessions.”
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When asked about the goal that gave his team a well-deserved early lead against the league leaders, Stanton was full of praise for the former Melbourne Victory player.
“That’s an outstanding goal. If that happened in the Premier League, it would be all over the talk.”
“It’s a fantastic finish against a top-notch goalkeeper. I’m pleased for him because he and everyone—Clayton (Taylor), (Lachie Rose), the whole team—are working hard.”
Following this result, the Jets find themselves nine points adrift of the top six, with eight matches still to play, the next being at home against Melbourne City on Wednesday night.
In addition to finals prospects, another burning topic arose in the post-match press conference: Stanton’s future with the club.
“I can’t say much on that,” he stated when asked about talks to extend his current contract, which is set to expire at the end of the season.
“To be honest, I’m not that bothered about my own future. I’ve never been one to look ahead to where I’m going next or what’s on the agenda.”
“Coaching is a fickle industry—one moment you’re in, the next you’re out. You could be a single game away from being sacked or a season away from something incredible.”
“I focus on my players and staff, where we are currently, and where we’re heading.”
“The rest will take care of itself.”
‘We’ve got to raise the bottom bar’
Central Coast Mariners manager Mark Jackson revealed that he and his coaching team are already strategising for next season after suffering a 3-0 defeat to Melbourne Victory.
Goals from Nishan Velupillay, Bruno Fornaroli, and Zinedine Machach saw Victory claim a comfortable victory against the reigning Isuzu UTE A-League champions, leaving the Mariners in 10th position and 10 points adrift of the top six.
While Jackson hasn’t thrown in the towel regarding a late finals charge, he acknowledged that significant changes were necessary for a squad that has conceded 10 goals in three matches and hasn’t won in seven outings.
MATCH REPORT: Melbourne Victory triumph in Grand Final rematch thanks to Socceroos stars & a stunning stoppage-time strike
“We’re already working on that,” Jackson responded when asked about the need to rebuild his squad in the post-match press conference.
“We’ve started scouting players and assessing what we need. Some players are fighting for their futures at the club.”
“That’s the reality. They’ve got to deliver performances if they want to stay and be part of what we build for next year.”
“We’ve been doing this behind the scenes for a while now. We are putting measures in place to act when the time is right.”
“There’s no doubt we need to strengthen the squad. I feel we need to raise our baseline performance and enhance competitiveness within the team.”
He further added: “We require a bit more experience as well, to find that balance. So, work is in progress behind the scenes. Yet, we still have games ahead to finish this season on a positive note.”
Next on the horizon for the defending champions is a challenging trip to New Zealand, where they face the team most likely to wrest the Premier’s Plate—and potentially the A-League championship—from their grasp: Auckland FC.
‘They were non-existent’: Veart holds no punches after Brisbane draw
Adelaide United coach Carl Veart gave a harsh assessment of his team after their 1-1 draw with Brisbane Roar at Coopers Stadium.
Despite the return of Panagiotis Kikianis, Luka Jovanovic, and Jonny Yull from international duty, the Reds failed to secure a win against the competition’s bottom side, marking their fourth match without victory.
“We started the second half decently, but after that, we were non-existent,” Veart remarked during the post-match conference.
MATCH REPORT: The youth shine as teens score stunning goals in Adelaide-Brisbane draw
“Too many players went missing and weren’t ready to put in the hard yards. It’s as simple as that.”
He continued, “We didn’t maintain possession. We didn’t look to attack. The performance was simply inadequate for a team that’s pushing for a top-two finish.”
Once looking up at Auckland FC, Veart’s side now finds themselves in fifth place, closely keeping an eye on the teams below them.
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“Absolutely,” Veart replied when questioned if this was his most disappointing moment of the season thus far.
“Last week I thought the energy and effort were fantastic. I believed that was probably our best performance of the season.”
“Then to return home and deliver that kind of performance against the bottom team—it’s unacceptable, and changes will be made in the line-up as a result.”
When asked if he thought their home form had now become a weakness, Veart was blunt in his critique.
“Yes, it’s a mentality issue. It reflects a weakness within our team.”
“The evidence is there. They might not be pleased with what I’m saying, but the facts are undeniable. You can’t afford to drop points at home against the bottom side if you want to win titles.”
Currently in fifth place with a four-point cushion over seventh-placed Sydney FC, Veart will be hoping his words serve as a wake-up call when they meet Macarthur Bulls away on Friday.
Western enjoying the journey, but Championship chatter remains off-limits
Western United are now just six points shy of league leaders Auckland FC after an impressive 4-1 victory over Wellington Phoenix in Round 21.
Goals from Rhys Bozinovski, Hiroshi Ibusuki, and a brace from Matthew Grimaldi allowed them to decisively conquer the Nix at Ironbark Fields, keeping them firmly in contention for the title.
Having previously lifted the Isuzu UTE A-League Championship in the 2021-22 season, coach John Aloisi understands what it takes to achieve success, but does he believe his current squad can replicate such triumphs?
MATCH REPORT: Western United soar to new heights after dominating Wellington Phoenix
“If you reach the finals, any team can believe they can win,” Aloisi responded to inquiries after the match.
“But first, we need to ensure a finals spot. We are close, but the competition is strong and tight. There are still six matches remaining. We must primarily focus on enjoying this result and performance before turning our attention to a strong Newcastle side.”
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“Then we have a little break, so that’s our immediate aim, and after that, we’ll reassess our position with five games left.”
“There’s no definitive points tally,” said the Championship-winning coach when asked about what is needed to secure the Premier’s Plate.
“Typically, around 40 points gets you into the finals, but it may require a bit more this season given the competitiveness. So perhaps it might be 41 or 42. Generally, around 50 points puts you in contention for the league title, but Auckland could rack up even more, or someone else could go on a hot streak and win six in a row. You never know.”
“We just need to stay focused on ourselves, on every match, and ensure we are prepared.”
Bulls face a daunting task, but Sterjovski retains belief
Macarthur Bulls manager Mile Sterjovski acknowledges that his side will likely need to win all six of their remaining fixtures to have a chance at finals football this season.
The Bulls faced their fourth defeat in five matches on Friday night, falling 2-0 to Melbourne City.
This result places Sterjovski’s team currently in eighth position, six points adrift of the top six with just six games to go.
MATCH REPORT: Academy star breaks one-year goal drought as City climbs the table with a win over Bulls
“Yeah, it’s tough,” Sterjovski replied when asked if he believed his team could still make the finals this year.
“I’ve mentioned before that we’ve lost some key players, but I still have faith in the squad; they now need to step up.”
“Believing we can do it isn’t sufficient; there needs to be execution. The players must display greater hunger to play our football.”
“In the past couple of weeks, I don’t think we’ve shown enough of that. We will need to win nearly all six of our remaining matches to have a shot at the finals, in my view.”
While not using it as an excuse for their defeat, Sterjovski expressed his frustration after the loss to City at AAMI Park, suggesting that the game could have turned had Melbourne City’s Max Caputo been issued a second yellow card.
“It was a challenging first half; City played well. However, I believe the referee might have overlooked a second yellow for Caputo, which could have shifted the match’s momentum.”
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“Regarding the penalty call, we were informed at the start of the season that when a player can’t react, it should not be awarded. So the inconsistencies in the decisions baffle me.”
“That said, I must credit City; they executed their game well today.”
When directly asked whether he received any clarifications from the referees about their decisions, Sterjovski voiced his disappointment.
“When you ask questions, they tend to avoid discussions. It’s frustrating for a coach when answers aren’t forthcoming.”
“However, I felt we started to find our rhythm in the second half, and then that penalty decision disrupted our momentum—it took the wind out of our sails.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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