Season Assessment: Grading Your Isuzu UTE A-League Team – Part One

The 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League has left an indelible mark with numerous records shattered, hearts captured, and unforgettable moments created.

This remarkable season saw the expansion of competition as Auckland FC claimed the Premiers Plate while Melbourne City celebrated their second Championship success. Now, aleagues.com.au reflects on how your favourite club fared throughout the thrilling 2024-25 season.

In the first segment of our three-part series, aleagues.com.au dives into the performances of Adelaide United, Auckland FC, Brisbane Roar, and Central Coast Mariners.

Adelaide United (6th place)

The 2024-25 season of the Isuzu UTE A-League certainly posed its set of challenges for Adelaide United along with their dedicated head coach, Carl Veart.

With teenage sensation Nestory Irankunda moving to Bayern Munich and experienced forward Hiroshi Ibusuki also departing, Veart and his team sought to reinforce their squad during the transfer window, securing Dutch defender Bart Vriends and Newcastle Jets striker Archie Goodwin among others.

Starting their campaign with a 1-1 draw against Central Coast Mariners, the Reds then embarked on an impressive eight-match unbeaten streak, propelling them into early contention for the title before they faced their first defeat against the Wanderers just before the new year.

A vital aspect of their strong start was a record-setting six-match unbeaten away run that saw them vying for the top spot alongside Auckland FC by late January. However, a dramatic 2-2 home draw against the Black Knights proved to be a pivotal moment in their season.

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Off-season recruit Goodwin was making an impact, netting seven goals by that stage, but the loss of key players—defender Panagiotis Kikianis, midfielder Johnny Yull, and striker Luka Jovanovic—due to their involvement with the triumphant Australian U20 side at the AFC Asian Cup was a significant blow for the Reds.

Following that draw against Auckland FC, Adelaide experienced a tough patch, managing to secure only two wins in their last twelve games. This downturn ultimately led to the decision that Veart’s five-year tenure as head coach would conclude at season’s end, independent of whether they reached the finals.

As it turned out, a hard-fought goalless draw with Melbourne City in their final match of the regular season was enough to clinch a finals berth, with the Reds edging out Sydney FC for sixth place by a solitary point.

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Sadly, Adelaide’s finals journey was short-lived, bowing out to a strong Western United team in a 3-2 defeat, exacerbated by the absence of joint-Golden Boot winner Goodwin due to injury, marking the end of their season and Veart’s era at the helm.

Securing finals qualification after a year in the wilderness should be viewed as a positive for the Reds. The rise of emerging talent like Kikianis and the outstanding goal-scoring prowess of Goodwin are promising signs, especially considering both are tied to long-term contracts.

RATING: 6/10

Auckland FC (1st)

The 2024-25 season saw the Isuzu UTE A-League expand to 13 teams for the first time in its history, and Auckland FC made a sensational debut.

With Championship-winning coach Steve Corica and an array of talented newcomers—including former Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper Alex Paulsen and Japanese star Hiroki Sakai—the Black Knights stormed the competition.

Right from the start, a 2-0 victory over Brisbane Roar in front of a vibrant crowd at Go Media Stadium set the tone for an astonishing six-match winning streak.

A vital moment in their success arrived in Round Three as they confronted Kiwi rivals Wellington Phoenix for the first time. The Black Knights asserted their dominance with a commanding 2-0 win at Sky Stadium.

Throughout the season, Auckland continued their superb form, defeating Wellington again 2-1 at home and notching a resounding 6-1 victory in their third encounter.

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Defensively, Corica’s squad excelled, maintaining five clean sheets in their initial seven matches, a trend that persisted throughout the season as they seldom faltered.

Fan-favourite left-back Francis De Vries emerged as one of the standout signings, while international recruits Guillermo May, Louis Verstraete, and Neyder Moreno proved to be astute additions, allowing the Black Knights to suffer just three defeats en route to claiming their first Premiers Plate.

Having clinched New Zealand’s inaugural piece of A-Leagues silverware, the Black Knights aimed to make it a double, but their journey ended in disappointment as they fell to Melbourne Victory in the semi-finals, marking a surprising close to what had been a phenomenal debut season.

While there was undeniable frustration regarding the season’s conclusion, few teams have made as impactful an entrance as Corica’s side did both on and off the pitch. Auckland FC’s arrival in the Isuzu UTE A-League has been nothing short of spectacular.

RATING: 9/10

Brisbane Roar (12th)

The 2024-25 season presented significant hurdles for Brisbane Roar and their head coach, Ruben Zadkovich.

With a full pre-season under his belt and a squad populated with new talent, there were expectations that the Roar could contend for a top-six finish by season’s end.

Additions such as Lebanese international Walid Shour reinforced the midfield, while defenders Hosine Bility, Ben Warland, and Harry Van Der Saag were brought in to shore up the defence, alongside the return of experienced forward Ben Halloran among several other signings.

However, the season’s inception proved disastrous for the Roar, with the team experiencing 10 losses and two draws in their opening twelve matches, conceding a staggering 27 goals.

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Brisbane finally broke their barren run with a memorable 4-3 away victory against Sydney FC in Round 13. While that result didn’t ignite their season, it certainly relieved some pressure on Zadkovich and his squad.

With such a high number of early losses, the Roar faced an uphill climb to achieve notable success, made all the more challenging by the sale of young star and academy product, Thomas Waddingham, during the mid-season transfer window.

This season provided considerable highlights, particularly in January, with fan favourite Henry Hore returning from a loan in Korea, exciting forward Asumah Abubakar joining on loan, and young star Sam Klein emerging in the first-team picture.

Hore made a significant impact on his return, tallying three goals and one assist over twelve appearances, while Abubakar netted four times and contributed two assists in eleven outings; Klein wrapped up his debut season as the club’s top scorer with five goals.

In a fierce contest with Perth Glory to avoid finishing last, Brisbane ultimately pulled ahead to secure 12th place on the ladder, winning three of their last four matches, before confirming Zadkovich’s departure as head coach. Michael Valkanis has been appointed as the new leader for the upcoming 2025-26 season.

RATING: 3/10

Central Coast Mariners (11th)

Entering the 2024-25 season fresh from a treble that included the Premiership, Championship, and AFC Cup, excitement surrounded the reigning Champions, Central Coast Mariners, and their quest for glory once more.

Yet, as history often shows with the Mariners, the off-season brought significant changes. Johnny Warren Medal winner Josh Nisbet transferred to Scottish side Ross County, midfield powerhouse Max Balard joined NAC Breda in the Eredivisie, fan favourite Jacob Farrell moved to Portsmouth, Championship-winning defender Dan Hall switched to Auckland FC, and legendary goalkeeper Danny Vukovic announced his retirement.

In response, the club welcomed Northern Ireland international midfielder Alfie McCalmont and Brazilian winger Vitor Feijao, alongside the experienced Trent Sainsbury, who rejoined the Mariners and assumed captaincy in place of the retiring Vukovic.

However, the season presented numerous challenges for head coach Mark Jackson and his staff, as their youthful squad endeavoured to defend their titles while also competing against Asia’s best in the AFC Champions League Elite.

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Entering the Isuzu UTE A-League campaign on the back of two losses in their initial ACL Elite matches, the Mariners faced further misfortune when Sainsbury was sidelined until early 2025 due to a pectoral injury sustained in training.

Compounding their troubles, Jackson’s team went four matches without a win at the beginning of the regular season, finally earning their first three points with a 2-1 victory against Newcastle Jets during Unite Round.

However, that victory would only amount to one of five wins throughout the season, as they often dominated matches but struggled to find the net, leading to a league-high 11 drawn matches.

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Coupled with an ACL Elite campaign that saw them suffer seven defeats from eight matches, their drop from the heights of the previous season was dramatic but understandable, given the significant player losses.

Nonetheless, several bright spots emerged, primarily from their young talents, who seized their chances.

Goalkeeper Dylan Peraic-Cullen, aged 18, was a surprising choice between the sticks for Round One, but his stunning performances earned him the starting spot. Centre-back Nathan Paull, 21, rebounded from an injury-hit season to shine in the absence of Sainsbury, while young forwards Bailey Brandtman and Arthur De Lima displayed their skills throughout the campaign.

However, the true star of the Mariners was 17-year-old midfielder Haine Eames, who was entrusted to orchestrate play in midfield. Eames consistently performed beyond expectations, and clubs overseas are already eyeing this emerging talent.

RATING: 5/10