It’s the final game of our season and what a way to end it – a huge F3 Derby.
We will travel to the Central Coast to try and take down our rivals at their home ground after coming off the back of picking up a point against Western United and a victory over Macarthur prior.
The Mariners have hit a purple patch of form recently to earn themselves a spot in the finals. They’ve won their past four matches and only lost one from the last 13 games, making this a mouth-watering rivalry match to finish the regular season.
After collecting a point midweek, our team still have the chance to avoid the Australia Cup playoffs, but will need to win over Central Coast, and hope that Sydney also drop points in their final two games.
Here’s the full breakdown of Saturday night’s clash:
CENTRAL COAST MARINERS V NEWCASTLE JETS
Date: Saturday 7 May, 2022
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Venue: Central Coast Stadium
How to Watch: Paramount+ (JETS MEMBERS GO FREE)
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Played: 55
Jets: 18
Draws: 18
Mariners: 19
DERBY REVENGE
Mariners are bordering a feat they’ve never achieved before – a clean sweep of wins from our F3 Derby matches this season – and our Jets will be out to make sure that doesn’t happen and we end the season with a rivalry win.
So far this season, our matches with Central Coast have ended in defeat – a 2-1 loss in November, and a 4-2 defeat only weeks ago – and revenge is very much on the cards.
The last time our opponents won three derby matches in a row was back in 2014, however our Jets have only lost one at Central Coast Stadium over our past seven trips south.
The last fixture between these two certainly brought the heat, with Daniel Penha receiving a red card, however this weekend he returns and his creativity and skill will be welcomed back. Olivier Boumal and captain Matt Jurman are also both in the running to return from injury to the pitch this weekend.
AVOIDING THE PLAYOFFS
After finishing the bottom part of the table last season, our Jets had to try and enter the FFA Cup (now Australia Cup) the hard way – through the Play-offs – where we fell to Western United.
This season, we may once again need to go through that system unless our team can force their way past Sydney who currently sit in eighth and two points ahead.
Sydney still have to take on Brisbane and Melbourne Victory in their final matches, making this game a win-at-all-costs kind of game for us.
If we are to still finish in ninth, our Jets will face off with Perth (12th) in a play-off game in the week following the regular season, most likely hosted at Jack McLaughlan Oval, Edgeworth.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Beka Mikeltadze (Newcastle Jets)
All eyes will be on Mikeltadze this Saturday as he looks to do what only two Jets before him have been able to achieve – win the league’s Golden Boot.
Adam Taggart (16 goals in 2013/14) and Joel Griffiths (12 goals in 2007/08) are the two men who have achieved this feat before, but our Georgian Gun must score if he is to win the award as Jamie Maclaren from Melbourne City currently sits on 14 goals – one ahead of our star man.
Beka managed to score one of our three goals against Macarthur and although it won’t be at the top of his mind when we take on the Mariners, it’ll be a very deserving award if he can snag a goal on Saturday.
He has already broken the club record for most goals scored in a debut season and has achieved the third-highest tally a Jet has ever achieved.
His ability to read the game and consistently pop up into dangerous areas makes him the most dangerous player on the field at all times and he will once again be the man to watch this weekend.
Matheus Moresche (Central Coast Mariners)
The Mariners’ Brazilian forward has certainly made a name for himself in his first season in the league and has played a part in our rival’s quick revolution this year.
The #10 has scored three goals so far in his time, but poses a threat up front with his ability to hold the ball at his feet and combine with his midfielders and his fellow striker James Cummings. He’s managed 12 key passes across the season and has showcased tremendous workrate as well.
Last time out, the 23-year-old scored the first goal to swing the momentum into the Mariners’ favour, and if we don’t shut him down this Saturday, he may again prove difficult.
STATS & FACTS
While the history between these two sides has been neck-and-neck and almost as even as can be, our opponents have edged us in the past five matches. The Mariners have won four to our one, and interestingly, this fixture has recently almost always brought a winner as there have only been two draws in our past 15 games.
This one will be contested by two of the best attacking teams in the competition. Mariners have scored 47 to our 45 and have only been kept scoreless on four occasions to our three.
Interestingly though, although we are near the top for goals scored, the same can’t be said for chances created, as we both are in the middle of the competition with 39 (Jets) and 36 (Mariners) respectively.
Our team continue to be at the top of the competition for possession and passing stats with 56% possession and an average of 442 passes a game, while Central Coast are middle of the pack with 48% and 366 passes.
This weekend will also mark Jason Hoffman’s 200th competitive match in a Jets jersey – what a game to do it in!
