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A-League resumes with M1 Derby

FOOTBALL Central Coast Mariners Head Coach Nick Montgomery says a full Mariners squad will take the field at Central Coast Stadium on Saturday afternoon (January 15) against local rivals Newcastle Jets in the M1 Derby.

“We’ve probably got the strongest squad we’ve had all season,” Montgomery commented on Tuesday, January 11 in the leadup to the game.

He said circumstances for the A-League side had been “difficult” over Christmas with close to 20 players and staff being forced into isolation with COVID-19.

The M1 Derby is one of the most hotly contested in the A-League and both sides go into the match this coming weekend with 18 wins each and the same amount of goals scored for and against.

As of Tuesday, Coach Montgomery said only one or two players were yet to get back to training and morale was strong.

“With the testing with the procedure we had here, the PCRs and the rapid tests, it was quite easy to detect and over Christmas the only option was for us to close down for seven days and isolate because it ripped through the squad,” he said.

“I think we did the right thing to protect not only ourselves but the public as well and unfortunately the games were postponed but we are going to play the games moving forward and it will be a heavy schedule but it is the same for every A-League club.

“The morale has been really good coming off the back of a good couple of results in the A League and then the FFA cup result so obviously we were looking forward to really building.

“We did what we had to do and that was really just keep everyone going.”

Montgomery said the club had turned the situation into “a positive”.

“I think it gave a few a little bit of time to reset, mentally and physically refresh.

“This has been the first week where we’ve really ramped things up and we’re looking at preparing for a massive game against our local rivals Newcastle Jets come Saturday afternoon.

“We had a good result down there and we know they will be coming back for revenge and we know both teams have had a couple of weeks without games so really everyone is itching to get back.

“We really hope the supporters can come out in this difficult time in safety and come to the stadium and really get behind us because I think it is a good game to start back with.

“The boys are raring to go and we’ve got a full squad, probably the strongest squad we have had all season.”

The new year brought an unexpected break for the Central Coast Mariners due to the emergence of Covid-19 throughout the camp in late December, 2021

Since defeating the Leichhardt Tigers in the FFA Cup Quarter Final with a mighty 6-0 thrashing on December 21, three Mariners’ A-League matches have been postponed.

These include the Wellington Phoenix and Macarthur Bulls clashes at Central Coast Stadium on December 27 and 31 – the latter of which also disappointing with the cancellation of the New Year’s Eve 9pm fireworks – as well as the away fixture against Brisbane Roar on January 9.

The cause of the postponements is the thorn in the side of all A-League clubs presently – as well as in the country as a whole – and the 2021/2 season will continue with the indefinite threat of further COVID-19 interruptions.

The club confirmed there had been no hospitalisations and many players and staff reporting no, or very mild, symptoms.

Upon the return to training, players who have yet to test positive to COVID-19 complete Rapid Antigen Tests every day on arrival.

Outside of training, players are limiting social behaviours and attempting to avoid high risk settings.

According to Mariners Chief Executive Officer, Shaun Mielekamp, the Australian Professional Leagues (APL) have ruled that any club with more than five unavailable players on the team list will be given the choice of postponing an upcoming match.

Mielekamp also raised hopes that the Macarthur match fireworks missed at 9pm on New Year’s Eve may be part of the match against the Jets.

Montgomery said he would also be keeping a close eye on the result of the FFA Cup Quarter Final played between Sydney and Brisbane last night (Wednesday) which will determine who the Mariners play in the Semi Final next week.

As far as trading players and hunting for new talent during the January exchange window, Montgomery said “We’re always on the lookout for boys who can strengthen the squad.

“There possibly could be one player coming in and one going out - that’s football.”

A full Mariners squad training in the leadup to this weekend’s M1 Derby